McIlroy sets the pace in Dubai

Irish prodigy Rory McIlroy produced a timely eight-under-par 64 today to open up a one-stroke lead midway through the first round of the delayed Dubai Desert Classic.

Irish golf prodigy Rory McIlroy produced a timely eight-under-par 64 today to open up a one-stroke lead midway through the first round of the delayed Dubai Desert Classic.

After the start of the opening round at Emirates Golf Club was delayed for two hours and 40 minutes due to fog, the talented teenager carded nine birdies to open up a one-stroke lead over Sweden's Robert Karlsson only a day after new Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie named him as a potential candidate for Celtic Manor next year.

McIlroy's only blemish came on his fourth hole of the day but he made amends as he holed from 15 feet on the last for a birdie to ensure the outright lead after calmly striking his approach into the heart of the green.

European number one Karlsson, a Ryder Cup winner in 2006, carded a bogey-free seven-under 65 to sit in the clubhouse a shot clear of early pacesetter Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano.

The Spaniard, winner of the British Masters, had stormed out of the blocks with five birdies over his opening nine holes but despite carding a further three birdies was only able to pick up a single stroke on his way home.

Abu Dhabi winner Paul Casey bounced back from missing the cut last week in Qatar with a bogey-free 68 to join in-form South African Louis Oosthuizen, who has finished second at his last two events, and Hartlepool's Graeme Storm at four-under-par.

"It was actually nice to be out late because I wanted to do a little work on my putting before I went out. I was able to do that and holed a few nice ones," said McIlroy.

"The conditions were perfect, the greens were soft, the fairways were soft. It was ideal scoring conditions."

Karlsson was also happy to take advantage of the conditions which he believes will set a winning total of 20 under par come Sunday - a similar level to the last two weeks in Abu Dhabi and Qatar.

"It was a solid game. There wasn't anything spectacular, but I got my chances, I took most of them and I still missed a couple of chances, but all in all very solid," he said.

"It was a great day for scoring with the greens fairly soft and not much wind.

"I think I had a quick look at 27 putts and I hit 10 fairways, I missed a couple of greens but when I missed them I got up-and-down.

"It's easier this year because the greens are soft so the chipping and pitching is quite a bit easier than normal."