Noren leads in Dubai

Bruced

Sweden's Alex Noren shot a six-under-par round of 66 to lead by one shot after the first day of the 2016 Omega Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday.

Four players, Peter Hanson (Sweden), Rafa Cabrera-Bello (Spain), Brett Rumford (Australia) and Trevor Fisher Jnr (South Africa), are sitting a shot back at five-under.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy carded a 68 along with seven others – Ernie Els (South Africa), David Lipsky (US), Simon Dyson (UK), Alvaro Quiros (Spain), Bernd Wiesberger (Austria), Chris Wood (UK) and Graeme Storm (UK) all ended on four-under to remain in touch with the leader. 

The 33-year-old Noren was in fine form and did not have a single bogey on the day.

He scored birdies on the first, fourth, fifth, and seventh holes on the front nine then carried on with birdies on the 10th and 17th to finish at six-under for the day. 

McIlroy never looked to be at his best but still finished with a solid four-under round.  

A bogey on the second and 10th did not help his cause but he did birdie the third, fifth and sixth on the front nine and then made three more on the 13th, 14th and 18th holes. 

Leading Dubai Desert Classic Day 1 scores:

1    SWE    Alexander Noren    -6, Total 66
T2    ESP    Rafael Cabrera-Bello -5, Total 67
T2    RSA    Trevor Fisher Jr
T2    SWE    Peter Hanson
T2    AUS    Brett Rumford
T6    ENG    Simon Dyson    -4,    Total 68
T6    RSA    Ernie Els
T6    USA    David Lipsky
T6    NIR    Rory McIlroy
T6    ESP    Alvaro Quiros
T6    ENG    Graeme Storm
T6    AUT    Bernd Wiesberger
T6    ENG    Chris Wood
T14    ENG    James Allan    -3, Total 69
T14    ENG    Richard Bland
T14    ENG    Daniel Brooks
T14    ENG    Ben Evans
T14    ENG    Oliver Fisher
T14    FRA    Benjamin Hebert
T14    AUS    Nathan Holman
T14    FRA    Raphael Jacquelin
T14    SCO    Scott Jamieson
T14    NED    Joost Luiten
T14    ITA    Matteo Manassero
T14    NIR    Graeme McDowell
T14    ENG    James Morrison
T14    FRA    Julien Quesne