Featured Golf News
Allenby Takes Lead in Dubai
Robert Allenby of Australia opened with a 7-under par 65 to take the first-round lead in the $7.5 million Dubai World Championship. The tournament at the Greg Norman-designed Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates is the final event of the 2009 European Tour season and is the culmination of the Race to Dubai.
The 38-year-old Allenby carded eight birdies and a bogey. He has a one-stroke lead over British players Lee Westwood and Chris Wood, and Colombian Camilo Villegas. Among the group of five players tied for fifth at 68 is Rory McIlroy, who came into the event as the leader in the earnings-based Race to Dubai.
Allenby hit 17 greens in regulation and made his only bogey. "It was nice. I played well. Hit the ball very well tee to green and just sort of cruised around. I think I only missed one green, which was the 17th, and I was just in between clubs there," he said.
Joining McIlroy and Westwood with the best chances to win the Race to Dubai is Germany's Martin Kaymer, who opened with a 1-under 71 and is in a tie for 22nd.
Westwood was happy with his play, which involved only one bogey. "Well, it was very solid stuff," Westwood said of his round. "Didn't make anything over the first six holes, and just was really patient because I knew the way I was hitting it, there were birdies for me out. So that's exactly what I did."
McIlroy knows what's at stake over the final three rounds. "I said to a couple of the guys out there that today almost felt like a last group final round. Because you're out in the middle of the day, and basically the top two in The Race to Dubai, you're sort of watching what each other are doing. It's hard to get away from that.
"I think the intensity levels this week have been raised a little bit, just because there's so much to play for, especially to be the first person to become the champion of the Race to Dubai,"" he added. I think it will be a great honor to put my name on that trophy.
"But as I said previously, I'm still trying to concentrate fully on the Dubai World Championship and not let my thoughts wander to what might happen."
Saeed Harib, managing director of Nakheel Leisure, the company developing Jumeirah Golf Estates, said of the opening round: "It's been a great day's play, with some outstanding golf. The Dubai World Championship is wide open, with many different players in the running, while the biggest battle for the Race to Dubai looks like it will be between Rory and Lee.
"Greg Norman can rightly be proud of the course he has designed. The season's finale looks like it is going to deliver all it promised."
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