Simon Dyson cards unblemished 68 in Omega Dubai Desert Classic

Dyson, six times a winner on the European Tour, was forced out of tournament golf for seven months by a wrist problem that eventually required surgery.

But in his fifth tournament back he produced a flawless round, carding birdies at holes four and eight on the way out and 10 and 15 on the way home with no bogeys to mar his card.

Sheffield's Danny Willett, who placed second to Rory McIlroy in last year's Order of Merit, shot 70.

He began well with birdies at three and four, but a bogey at the sixth hole was followed immediately by a double bogey at the next.

The European Masters champion responded with four birdies in seven holes from the 10th before taking a backward step with a bogey at 17.

Willett's fellow Sheffielder Matt Fitzpatrick was also heading for a below-par round, but faltered at the last with a double bogey seven.

He was two under through 13 holes, having bogeyed the sixth but birdied holes three, 11 and 13.

However, a bogey followed at 15 before his mishap at the last.

Defending champion McIlroy was satisfied with his opening round iat EmiratesGC after recovering from a poor start with some characteristic flashes of brilliance.

Starting on the back nine, McIlroy had to hole from 15 feet for bogey on the 10th after finding a greenside bunker with his approach and watching his recovery attempt roll off the green and back to his feet.

The world No 2 also did well to scramble a bogey on the second after hooking his tee shot deep into the trees and failing to find the fairway with his second shot, but fired six birdies to finish four under par, two behind clubhouse leader Alex Noren of Sweden.

"I thought I did well considering the start and some of the shots I hit throughout the round," said McIlroy.

"I felt like 68 was probably a fair reflection of how I played."