Sullivan takes two-shot lead at Golf in Dubai Championship
Sullivan went out in the fourth group, starting on the back nine, and took full advantage of early conditions to deliver a birdie frenzy to sit ahead of compatriots Wallace, Fisher and Rozner
England’s Andy Sullivan rode a hot puter to shot an immaculate 61 on his way to a new course record to take a two-stroke lead ater the first round of the inaugural Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World.
The Englishman went out in the fourth group of the day, starting on the back nine, and he took full advantage of early conditions in the UAE to deliver a birdie frenzy to sit ahead of compatriots Mat Wallace, Ross Fisher and France’s Antoine Rozner at the Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Fire course on Wednesday.
Sullivan recorded 11 birdies in a bogey free opening round and needed to finish his final three holes in three under to become only the second person to record a 59 in European Tour history - ater Oli Fisher at the 2018 Portugal Masters.
A birdie at the par five seventh boosted his chances but he brushed the cup with his long birdie put at the eighth. Sullivan could have scored 59 at the par four ninth - his last - if he holed out in two but he pushed his tee shot into the rough.
His approach landed seven feet away, however, Sullivan could not drain the birdie put as he carded a stunning 11 under par - two shots ahead of Rozner and English duo Wallace and Fisher.
“It’s funny, I played the front nine yesterday and I played the back nine a year ago when we came over to warm up, you do all this prep on these courses and try and work out where to hit it,” Sullivan said.
“This week I turned up and clatered it down and found myself being ridiculous under par through seven or eight holes on my front nine. You think ‘here we go’.
“Covid really changed everything for me. I refocused and started enjoying it again. I’ve started to play a lot beter. Going out there and enjoying it I know I’m giving myself the best chance to shoot a low score.
“Coming back to Jumeirah, I’ve always played prety tidy here on the other course. It’s nice to get off to a flier on this one.”
Wednesday marked the 49th UAE National Day and Emirati invitational golfer Ahmed Skaik hit the opening tee shot to start the new event at Jumeirah Golf Estates before Sullivan made his charge up the leaderboard.
Scotish duo Marc Warren and Craig Howie sit on eight under par alongside Sweden’s Oscar Lengden ater firing 64s to lie three behind Sullivan while a group of four players posted a seven under par 65.
For Wallace, his round was a result of detailed preparation as he opened with an under-par score for the sixth consecutive event.
“My preparation has been the same for a long time now and I prepare as well as I possibly can to be ready to shoot those scores.
“Conditions were scoreable as it got hot so the ball travels a long way and the greens are perfect - but it’s still not easy,” said Wallace.
Rozner has been in superb form of late, carding just one over-par round in his last four starts, and he was delighted with his day’s work.
“I think it’s my best round of the year for sure,” said the Frenchman. “I have been playing well over the last few weeks but I couldn’t really put anything together in the same round, but I think I did that very well today.
Fisher has posted three top tens this season - all of them coming in the Middle East at the start of the year - and he’s delighted to have turned a corner.
“I feel like my game has been there recently, but I haven’t been able to find it,” said Fisher, who turned 40 last week. “I’ve hit the ball well for a long time, worked hard on my puting and my short game - but it hadn’t clicked for some reason and it has been frustrating. It’s not through the want of trying and I feel like it’s in there and so I’m delighted to come out here and start like this.”
Two-time Major champion Martin Kaymer shot a 66 to sit in a large group on six under par which includes Robert Macintyre, winner of the Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown three weeks ago. Former Omega Dubai Desert Classic winners Danny Willet and Haotong Li both opened with a 67, and so too did 2016 Ryder Cup star Thomas Pieters.