McIlroy hoping to last pace in Dubai

Rory McIlroy is hoping his storming start to the Dubai Desert Classic will finally help him to a breakthrough win.

After being tipped as a potential Ryder Cup player next year by captain Colin Montgomerie, the 19-year-old from the North carded an eight-under-par 64 yesterday for a one-shot lead over Robert Karlsson – although almost half the field were unable to complete their first rounds because of fog at Emirates Golf Club.

McIlroy has yet to win a senior title after play-off defeats at the 2008 European Masters and 2009 Hong Kong Open.

He has recorded top-five finishes in his last five events – and although he finished way down last week in Qatar, McIlroy was seven under over the final three days.

“I want to try and get into contention every time I go out and play,” he said.

“I’ve been able to do that quite a lot the last few weeks – but I hope with a good start this week, I’ll be able to do it.

“I’m shooting a few low numbers, and Abu Dhabi gave me a nice boost in the first week of the year.

“I struggled last week with my distance control. But I worked a little bit on it this week and I played really nicely.

“I was really pleased with my distance control. I know when I am playing well, because I usually end up pin-high – which I wasn’t able to do last week.”

Playing partner Mark O’Meara, a two-time major winner, was also quick to acknowledge McIlroy’s talent – claiming the former world number one amateur is better than Tiger Woods was at the same age.

McIlroy played his first professional event as a 16-year-old in 2005, while Woods waited until he was 21 before leaving the amateur ranks.

“Ball-striking wise, at 19 he’s probably better than what Tiger was at 19,” said O’Meara, who hit an opening-round 77.

“His technique, I think, is better. Certainly Tiger has developed his game and swing over the years and made modifications to be able to hit the ball pin-high. But Rory is already doing that and he’s 19, so he’s already a step ahead.”

Karlsson’s bogey-free 65 left the Swede hot on the heels of McIlroy and a shot clear of British Masters champion Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel, who has four holes of his opening round still to complete.

Frenchman Gregory Havret and Sweden’s Alexander Noren sit three further back - with Abu Dhabi winner Paul Casey, in-form South African Louis Oosthuizen, Graeme Storm and Justin Rose at four under.

Hennie Otto made it three South Africans inside the top 10 as he joined the quartet at four under – with four holes to play of his first round.