Lyle keeps feet on the ground

Rookie Jarrod Lyle was keeping his feet firmly on the ground after making a flying start on the first day of the Dubai Desert Classic.

The 23-year-old Australian was naturally delighted after firing a four-under-par 68 to claim a share of third place.

But Lyle, who accepted a late invitation from Dubal and sponsorship from Emirates to take part, has a different perspective on the highs and lows of sport after being diagnosed with leukaemia in May 1999.

He spent nine months undergoing gruelling chemotherapy in a Melbourne hospital, and it was the best part of another year before he was fit enough and strong enough to play 18 holes without needing a buggy.

"I'm alive and I'm above ground, not under it, so every day is a bonus," he said. "And a bad day on the golf course is better than a day in hospital."

Yesterday, of course, was a very good day for Lyle, who paid tribute to his parents for seeing him through those dark hours to emerge as one of Australia's most promising young prospects.

"My family was the only thing that got me through it, that and playing golf was something I was really looking forward to getting out and doing," he said.

"That's a part of my life that is never going to leave me and I'll never forget it. In a way, I'm kind of grateful that it happened.

"I had a lot of good things happen because of it and I suppose this is one of them. I'm just living life at the moment, taking one day at a time and enjoying everything."

He could almost have added the words "one round at a time" as he reflected on an opening day's effort, which featured four birdies and a bogey five on the ninth.

"It's a good start and hopefully I can build on it. I'm just taking it one day at a time, I don't want get too far ahead of myself," said Lyle, who was the clubhouse leader for several hours.

"There are still three days to go and Friday is probably the biggest day of the week. I've got to try and improve or at least pick up a couple of shots and keep going up instead of backwards."

Lyle, who turned professional in October, admits he arrived in the emirate with low expectations.

"I did not know how I'd be after playing five weeks in a row in Australia, jumping on a plane and flying 14 hours over here," he said.

"I only played the course for the first time on Wednesday so I wasn't expecting too much but this course suits my kind of game.

"You have to hit it well off the tee and that's something I did today, giving myself chances to make birdies and the more chances you have the better."

In life, as well as on the golf course, he could have added.