DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Rory McIlroy upstaged the world's top three golfers with a 7-under 65 Thursday to take the first-round lead at the Dubai Desert Classic.
McIlroy was four shots better than No. 1 Lee Westwood and No. 2 Martin Kaymer, and six ahead of No. 3 Tiger Woods.
Sergio Garcia and Thomas Aiken trailed by two.
"I ... got away with a couple of drives that I was quite fortunate to make birdies from," McIlroy, 21, said. "I had a putt for a 64 on the last that didn't quite go in. But I'll take 65."
Woods shot a 71.
"I struggled today with ball flight," he said. "My trajectory wasn't what I wanted on a lot of shots, and consequently, I could never get a ball pin high."
Westwood made several putts en route to four birdies. But he faltered toward the end, three-putting on No. 17 to miss another birdie chance, and scoring a bogey on the 18th when his approach shot fell short.
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PGA Tour
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. - D.A. Points said he knew it was going to be a great week at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am when he found out comedian Bill Murray was his amateur partner.
Points found Murray's antics to be more amusing than annoying, and it showed in his play. With eight birdies on the Shore Course at Monterey Peninsula, Points opened with a 7-under 63 to share the lead with Steve Marino.
"I know people talk about his antics," Points said. "To be honest, it really loosens me up and makes me, between shots, not be grinding so hard on what I'm doing."
Marino had a most unusual 7-under 65 at Spyglass Hill in that he failed to birdie any of the par-5 holes. He still managed seven birdies, including a big drive and a wedge to inside a foot on his final hole. Marino only knew it was good when a woman began shrieking after it checked up close.
The best shot of the day belonged to Alex Cejka, who was one behind after a 64 on the Shore Course. He started by holing a 3-wood from the fairway on the par-5 10th. The PGA Tour said no other player has started a round with an albatross.
"I think it was the best start I've ever had," Cejka said in an understatement. "It carried just short of the green and bounced up and took a break toward the hole. There were like three or four marshals up there, and they started screaming, and suddenly, it was in the hole. It's the first one for me."
