Dechambeau feeling strong after bulking up for Dubai

GOLF: American off to good start in bid to defend Desert Classic title on tough course

Bryson Dechambeau believes he will possess a “scary combo” of distance and accuracy if he can get the latter under control after starting the defence of his Omega Dubai Desert Classic title with an opening 70.

Dechambeau carded a winning total of 24 under par as he cruised to a sevenshot victory last year, but a repeat of such scoring appears unlikely at a venue boasting narrower fairways and thicker rough.

Only 29 players in the 132-strong field at Emirates Golf Club managed to break par, with Belgium’s Thomas Pieters leading the way with a five-under-par 67 to hold a one-shot lead over American David Lipsky.

England’s Eddie Pepperell was part of a 12-man group on three under, with Dechambeau a stroke further back following a round containing four birdies and two bogeys.

“It’s playing at least four shots harder a day (than last year) if it was to stay like this, no doubt,” the world number 17 told Sky Sports. “The fairways are tightened up.

“It’s a very, very good test of golf and you have to make sure your wedge game is on and your iron play out of the rough is on because you’re going to be in there.

“I’m still working on the driver. It’s a work in progress but it will be a work in progress until I can get the right stuff in my hands.”

Dechambeau opted to add considerable muscle mass during the offseason in a bid to increase the distance he hits the ball and feels it is a move which will pay significant dividends.

“The shot I hit on five – it was off line but it was still so far up there that I had a wedge in my hand,” Dechambeau said of a wayward tee shot which still led to a birdie.

“At six I hit it 350 (yards) just into the first cut. I hit it really far. I can do that and now it’s just about controlling it and if I can control it it’s going to be a scary combo.”

Pieters has always been one of the longest hitters in the game but it was the former Ryder Cup star’s iron play which proved crucial as he raced to the turn in 32 and then recovered from dropping three shots in two holes with a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth.

Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington and former Masters champion Sergio Garcia are four shots off the lead after rounds of 71.

Meanwhile Open champion Shane Lowry returned a level-par 72 and pretournament favourite Tommy Fleetwood struggled to a 75.

Leading Scots are Aberdonian Richie Ramsay and Stephen Gallacher who both carded one over 73s. Grant Forrest is one shot further back while Robert Macintyre, Scott Jamieson and David Drysdale are all on two over.

David Law carded a 75 while Paul Lawrie hit a 77.

● Scotland’s Alison Muirhead took command of the Ladies European Tour Qualifying School after day two at La Manga in Spain.

Muirhead added a second round of 67 to her opening 69 to reach eight under par, five shots ahead of Morgane Metraux of Switzerland and 16-year-old Slovenian amateur Pia Babnik.

Bryson Dechambeau carded an opening 70 on the first day of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, having beefed up his driver shots thanks to training for increased power off the tee.