Haydn Porteous survived a back nine blip to card an opening round 66 at the Dubai Desert Classic with Dean Burmester one shot further back, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Porteous’ fast start comes on the back of a missed cut at the BMW SA Open and a quiet week in Abu Dhabi where he finished T53. The reigning D+D REAL Czech Masters winner began his round on the 10th and duly started with a birdie. He was out in five under thanks to gains at the 13th, 15th and back to back at 17 and 18 as he stole a march on the field.
The 23-year-old moved up another spot with a birdie on the 2nd before a double at the par 5 third halted his progress. He showed his grit for the fight to get those shots back with two consecutive birdies before a bogey at the sixth. Again, he bounced back as he made a three on his penultimate hole before closing with a par.
Porteous’ 66 currently has him one behind a group of five which includes two-time event winner Rory McIlroy, contender last week Thomas Pieters and a name becoming familiar with South African audiences, Chris Paisley.
McIlroy is showing little signs of rust following his three-month break at the end of 2017 as he looks to ramp up his pre-Masters tournament work. The Northern Irishman was bogey-free and outshine his Ryder Cup colleagues in the marquee group which includes reigning champion Sergio Garcia (67) and Henrik Stenson (70).
McIlroy hit a stunning tee-shot into the 11th, made a putt from the fringe on the 15th and made the most of the par five 13th and 18th to get himself into a good position heading into the weekend.
Leading through 18 holes is England’s David Horsey after his superb 63 which included just one drop shot and four birdies in a row around the turn.
Joining Stenson on -2 after Thursday was a pair of South Africans in Ernie Els and Richard Sterne. Els, who confirmed his new equipment deal, is a three-time winner and clearly is comfortable at the Emirates Course. The Big Easy rolled in five birdies in a row around the turn but two late bogeys scuppered his excellent progress.
Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen are afternoon starters.
Photo: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
