The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Donaldson leads way with 62 in Dubai
McIlroy to fore, while Fife’s Connor Syme opens with round of 70
Ex-Ryder Cup star Jamie Donaldson flirted with carding the first 59 on the European Tour before having to settle for an opening 62 in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Top Scots were Paul Lawrie and Scott Jamieson on four under par, with Fife’s Connor Syme well placed on two under after a round of 70.
Donaldson, who secured the winning point for Europe at Gleneagles in 2014, began his round on the back nine of the Emirates Golf Club and had nine birdies and an eagle in his first 16 holes.
After almost chipping in on the eighth and tapping in for par, the 42-year-old Welshman bogeyed the ninth to miss out on equalling the course record of 61.
Donaldson still ended the day with a one-shot lead over David Horsey and Anthony Wall, with Tyrrell Hatton a shot further back and Rory McIlroy part of a group on seven under on a day when more than 100 of the 132-strong field broke par.
Donaldson reached a career high of 23rd in the world in 2014 but has struggled for form and fitness since winning the Thailand Golf Championship in December 2015 and was lucky to escape serious injury to his left hand the following month after an accident with a chainsaw while gardening.
McIlroy’s bogey-free 65 takes him to 25 under par for the first five rounds of his comeback from injury.
The 28-year-old called an early end to a winless and injury-plagued season last October, but returned with a tie for third in Abu Dhabi last week and carried on where he left off in Dubai.
“I don’t think you could have got better conditions out there,” McIlroy said.
Connor Syme was joined on two under by Richie Ramsay and Marc Warren, with Stephen Gallacher one shot further back and Colin Montgomerie on level par.