Lowry tied for second in Dubai

Shane Lowry is just three off the lead on day one of the Dubai World Championships while Peter Lawrie is one over after 13 and Rory McIlroy tees off latter.

The Offaly player is three under after nine holes and leader Paul Lawrie has a three shot lead on six under through 13.

Lowry, winner of the Irish Open when still an amateur two years ago, is making his debut in the end-of-season event open only to those who are in the top 60 on the “Race to Dubai” money list.

He birdied the first two holes to be one in front of not only Ernie Els, but also Scotland’s 1999 Open champion Lawrie and Danish rookie Thorbjorn Olesen.

Lowry went to three under at the short fourth, but it was not enough to keep him out in front.

That was because Lawrie, who in Spain in March had his first victory for nine years, had five birdies in six holes from the fifth.

After two 15-foot putts he chipped to four feet on the long seventh, made a 35-footer to turn in 32 and then started for home by moving to five under and two ahead.

Ernie Els made a good start today in his bid to prevent this going down as his worst year on the European Tour since his first full season in 1992.

Twice the circuit’s number one, Els is 52nd on the standings and also in danger again of losing his position at the top of the career money list to Lee Westwood.

The 42-year-old South African birdied the 454-yard opening hole and at one under par after four holes was one behind the early pacesetter, Ireland’s Shane Lowry.

Having fallen to 55th in the world after starting the year 12th, Els needs a top four finish this weekend to have a chance of climbing back into the top 50 just in time to clinch an invitation to next April’s Masters.

Els remained one under after eight, while defending champion Robert Karlsson quickly fell six behind when he took six on the 583-yard second.

The 58-strong field – Justin Rose and Fredrik Jacobson are not playing – were being sent off in reverse Order of Merit positions in the opening round, which meant that Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy, the two left fighting for the Tour’s number one crown, were last out at 12.30pm local time.

McIlroy has to win, but even then would not take the title if Donald, also the only player ahead of him in the world rankings, finishes in the top nine.