Dubai : Robert Karlsson leads round one of The Dubai World Championship at the 72 par, 7675 yard Earth Course, Jumeirah Golf Estates, having recorded a seven-under-par 65 with eight birdies yesterday. He made up for three bogeys with a 114 yard eagle on the fourteenth, but missed out on the course record, set last year by Lee Westwood, by a stroke.
The 41-year-old Swede stole the limelight from second-placed Seung Yul-nol, who achieved a stunning 66 six under. It was a clean sheet from the South Korean sensation, just 19-years-old, who birdied six times and defended well with a flurry of pars when the going got tough.
In third place came Race to Dubai leader Martin Kaymer, who notched five under par with 67, also bagging an eagle from 192 yards on the third hole with four birdies and a bogey on the fourth.
Kaymer holds fort over his only other Race to Dubai/European Order of Merit contender, Graeme McDowell, who finished on level par after three bogeys and three birdies to end day one tied disappointingly at 25th.
Pretty confident
Karlsson was deadpan of his early lead, "That was one round, there's another three to go — I'm playing well. I have most of the shots in the bag and feel pretty confident."
Spurning targets for the weekend, Karlsson said, "I just try to go out and play my best golf four days in a row and we'll see where I end up."
Second placed Nol said the real goal to take from this Championship for him would be to gain as many points as possible to move up to a top 50 spot in the world rankings and thus earn a slot at The Masters. He's currently 69th in the world but number one in Asia. Of his chances for the remaining three rounds of this tournament he said, "I think I can maintain today's pace. I'm playing in a strong field probably one of the best in the world. Expectations aren't that high. I may not top the bonus pool but if I'm in it so be it."
Nothing to complain
Meanwhile third-placed Kaymer said of his now slightly eased dogfight for The Race to Dubai with McDowell. "Its not over — everybody has to expect him to play well. He's one of the best players in the world and he can easily shoot five or six under every day."
Of his opening round Kaymer added, "I cannot complain about five under par. It could have been better, yes, but on the other hand, you don't hole a shot from 192 yards everyday."
McDowell was upbeat of a first round performance, which dents the momentum with which he had rolled into Dubai on somewhat, "He's [Kaymer] five shots ahead of me, that's all it is. We have 54 holes left and a lot of golf left this weekend. I have to do better, simple as that. There's certainly no panic yet."
McDowell added, "I certainly didn't play myself out of the tournament today," but accepted "I need a big weekend from here."
"I've been five, six shots behind the leader many times on a Thursday evening, and not massively disappointed."
Total Prize money
The Dubai World Championship is a four-round/day 72-hole strokeplay event that wraps up a 48-tournament-long European Tour. Prize money of $7.5 million (Dh27.5 million) is split between 60 competitors, which goes towards their final season-long Order of Merit cash standings [otherwise called The Race to Dubai] to decide Europe's number one golfer. Another $7.5 million is then spread among the top 15 final Race to Dubai finishers. A silver and gold mace goes to The Dubai World Championship winner, while the Harry Vardon Trophy goes to the overall series winner. Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer are both in contention for the series. 290,910 euros (Dh1.43million) is all that puts Kaymer in front. McDowell can overtake Kaymer by winning or coming outright second provided Kaymer is no higher than tied for third. If McDowell is tied for second, Kaymer can finish sixth and still win.
