Noren leads in Dubai

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February 4, 2016

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