Golf: McGrane thankful for a failed polar expedition

Tiger Woods may have set the pace on day one of the Dubai Desert Classic with his opening seven-under-par round at the United Arab Emirates but the first Irish man to tee off today is more than content with his day's work.

The world number one took a two-stroke clubhouse lead but Damian McGrane got off to a tidy start with an opening 68 leaving him four-under and three shots off the pace and flying the flag as best of the Irish competitors on day one of the event.

He's putting his current run of form down to his winter expedition to Antarctica which didn't quite go according to plan.