DONALDSON CLOSE TO RECORD 59

RYDER CUP hero Jamie Donaldson flirted with the first 59 in European Tour history as he took the first-round lead at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Rory McIlroy (left) claimed he was “ahead of schedule” on his return to golf after carding 65.

But the Ulsterman was still three shots behind his Gleneagles team-mate – and the Welshman was on course to go even lower as he fired nine birdies and an eagle in his first 16 holes. Needing two more birdies to break the magical 60 barrier, after starting on the 10th tee, the world No.292 nearly chipped in at the eighth, but then bogeyed the last for a 62.

“I was thinking about it (shooting 59),” said Donaldson. “I pictured birdieing them all – and jumping in the lake on the last.”

McIlroy, still in the mix to win his first title since September 2016, said: “I’m ahead of schedule right now. That’s nice.”