McIlroy Leads In Dubai

Northern Ireland’s McIlroy shot 7-under 65 at the Emirates Golf Club and is two strokes ahead of Spain’s Sergio Garcia and South African Thomas Aiken. Woods, seeking his first victory since November 2009, finished with 71.

Woods was grouped with England’s Lee Westwood and Germany’s Martin Kaymer, the two players ahead of him at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking. The American won in Dubai in 2006 and 2008.

“We had a blast,” Woods said in an interview with Sky Sports. “It’s nice to have this kind of pairing because we don’t have a chance to do it very often.”

McIlroy, playing early before the wind started blowing, made eight birdies and a bogey. The 21-year-old, who started on the 10th hole, had five straight birdies from his eighth to 12th holes.

“It was a great way to start the tournament,” McIlroy, whose only European Tour victory came in Dubai two years ago, said on the tour’s website. “I felt in control of my ball most of the day.”

Top-ranked Westwood and Kaymer both shot 3-under 69 and are four shots off the lead. The duo’s pairing with Woods marked the first time in 17 years the top three in the world ranking played in a regular European Tour event, according to the tour’s website.

‘Very Special’

“It’s very special to have the top three in the world here,” Kaymer told Sky Sports. “Of course, you’re a little bit more nervous the first two, three holes than normally on Thursday. I had a solid first round and that’s all I wanted to do.”

Woods finished his round by hitting his second shot at No. 18 to within five feet, then making the putt for an eagle.

“I had 254 (yards) to the hole and had to take something off it,” Woods, who called his round “scratchy,” said. “I threw it up in the air and it was perfect.”

Woods was ranked No. 1 when he previously played in a top- three grouping at the 2008 U.S. Open with No. 2 Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott.

Daniel "Pitchside" Pitcher Twitter: @DanFM104Sport About: Dan "Pitchside" Pitcher provides insight and commentary as the chief soccer and rugby correspondent for Sportspeak.