Looking forward to an exciting Sunday

As I write this piece, we have finished the first round of the Dubai World Championship — easily the most anticipated golf tournament in the world. And after being at the Earth course in Jumeirah Golf Estates for the past four days, I can only give a big thumbs up to everything associated with the tournament.

Starting with the amazing hotel where we have been put up — The Atlantis — to the transport facilities, to the players' lounge, to the crèche facility at the golf course, to the golf course itself... everything has been very well thought out and first-class.

There was a big question mark over the Greg Norman-designed Earth course. I suppose the general perception was that the course was going to prove extremely difficult. Then, looking at the low pro-am scores, I was asked if it was too easy. Actually, I think the beauty of the Earth lies in its flexibility — it can be made an easy course, and you can convert it into a monster with the slightest of tweaks.

Some of the holes are really long. The moment you start hitting 3- or 4-irons in as your approach shots, you have to start depending on the ability of the green to hold the ball. You make the greens firm and hard, and you start looking at pars as very respectable scores.

And then there is another factor — the size and shape of the greens. Because they are so massive at Earth, and come with such undulations, the pin placement on each day becomes a determining factor as to how you are going to hit your approach shots. If you tuck away the pins, I'd reckon a three or a four-under would be a very good round.

There are some players who have spoken about the absence of rough this week, but I think that is a good thing. The rough would have made scoring extremely difficult.

I finished the first day at two-under 70. I will take a round like this on any opening day, but I know that I left at least a couple of shots out there on the golf course. I three-putted twice — on the third for a bogey and on the par-5 seventh for a par.

This week, the focus is not only on the tournament, but also on the Race to Dubai. And the leaders Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood produced a fascinating display, especially over the back nine, to leave the fans salivating at the prospects over the next few days. It's going to be an exciting Sunday evening for sure.

Jeev Milkha Singh is a three-time champion on the European Tour