General / Editor / 01 February 2007 /

Three-time winner Ernie Els has made a superb start to the Dubai Desert Classic, carding a six-under par 66 to sit one place off the top of the leaderboard.

The Big Easy began his campaign at the tenth hole but dropped a shot at the 11th - his second - after three-putting.

However he bounced back with an eagle at the next - holing from 167 yards with a seven iron - before shooting four birdies in five holes to reach the turn in five-under par.

Further birdies followed at the first and third but the South African lost the chance to finish his first round with a share of the lead with another bogey at the fourth.

That lead is held by England's Ross Fisher and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell on seven-under par, with Els, Spain's Jose Manuel Lara and Jyoti Randhawa of India all on -6 with three rounds still to play and Els admitted that he is in love with the United Arab Emirates course.

"I feel comfortable on this course," he said. "I love the way they set it up and it is always
in perfect shape.

"I feel excited playing here because I enjoy the golf course and feel I can make some birdies. Conditions were perfect this morning."

Defending champion Tiger Woods, favourite for the tournament at 2.46, sits on four-under after a 68, along with Lee Westwood (60) and Darren Clarke (65).

Els is the 4.6 second favourite, with McDowell trading at 18.5 and Fisher available at 75.

Despite sitting in second place after day one, Randhawa is trading at 85, with in-form Paul Casey priced at 48 after a two-under 70 in the Middle East.

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