McIlroy's bright start to defence

GOLF: Defending champion Rory McIlroy shared a six-way tie for the lead after the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic.

It was a testing first day at the Emirates Golf Club but McIlroy started the defence of his only career title with a promising four-under 68 to finish alongside Alexander Noren, Charl Schwartzel, Jeev Milkha Singh, Edoardo Molinari and Stephen Dodd.

With reduced visibility caused by sand whipping across the Majlis course and thick, unforgiving rough to contend with, Schwartzel’s bogey-free effort was the pick of the day.

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McIlroy opened with a stunning 64 last year – a round he rated as “the easiest 64 I’ll ever shoot” – but yesterday’s effort was much more of a patient grind.

Malton’s Simon Dyson was three shots off the lead after a promising opening round but it was a miserable start to the event for Yorkshire’s two other competitors.

Rotherham’s Danny Willett hit a 79, just one shot ahead of Hull’s Richard Finch.