A DESERT STORMER FOR RORY
... but British fab four keep red-hot McIlroy off the lead
UPSTaging Rory Mcilroy when he’s shot a first-round 65 doesn’t happen too often but a trio of Englishmen and a veteran Welshman deserved at least a share of the headlines on a day of remarkable scoring at the Omega Dubai Desert classic.
David Horsey and anthony Wall shot 63 and Tyrrell Hatton, who would certainly relish a back-nine tussle against Mcilroy come Sunday, handed in an accomplished 64. Best of all though was the card of 42-year-old Jamie Donaldson, who stood on the ninth tee — his 18th — needing a par to equal Ernie Els’s course record of 61, set 24 years ago before the Emirates course was toughened up.
Welshman Donaldson, who secured the winning point at the 2014 Ryder cup with the shot of the tournament, fell so far he only kept his tour card at the death last year. now he is determined to make the most of his reprieve, for not even his only bogey of the round could diminish the pleasure of a marvellous 62.
‘You can hardly be disappointed when you shoot 10 under,’ he said. ‘i don’t think i’m that far away from how i was playing in 2014. My driving was fantastic and i putted really well.’
Wall is also 42 and could hardly believe what was happening, given a poor record here. ‘i think i made up for 20-odd years of suffering today,’ said the Londoner, smiling. ‘i enjoyed it from first minute to last.’
Horsey, from Manchester, is a decade younger and has four European Tour victories but none since 2015. ‘That round has given me momentum and now i’m looking forward to the next three days,’ he said.
as for Mcilroy, another day in the desert produced another impressive round. after 102 days away from competition, Mcilroy, 28, followed up his 18-under-par total in abu Dhabi last week with another seven-under score. it was also bogey-free, meaning he’s averaging one bogey every 30 holes since his comeback.
an immaculate course and breathless conditions could hardly have been more conducive to ‘Rory golf’. But everything we have seen so far suggests that, alongside all the other wonders that sport at the highest level will bring us this year, we’re building nicely towards an exquisite example of vintage Mcilroy that will form part of the highlight reel.
certainly, each of the richly varied quartet of players from Britain must be thinking that if he can stay ahead of Mcilroy for three more rounds, he will be holding the trophy on Sunday night.
Mcilroy’s score was matched by his Ryder cup playing partner Thomas Pieters and Englishman chris Paisley, whose rich run of form continued. Two weeks ago Paisley, 32, achieved a breakthrough win in South africa, followed by a top-six finish in abu Dhabi.
Masters champion Sergio garcia shot 67, while man of the moment Tommy Fleetwood recovered well from a less than euphoric start to shoot 69.