Rory McLiroy of Northern Ireland tees off on the second hole during the First round of The Dubai Desert Classic in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
/ AP Photo/Nousha Salimi
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland opened the defense of his Dubai Desert Classic title by shooting a 4-under 68 Thursday to share a six-way lead.
McIlroy says "it was a good day's work and I will be in good spirits going into the second round."
Also shooting a 68 at Emirates Golf Club were Alexander Noren of Sweden, Charl Schwartzel of South Africa, India's Jeev Milkha Singh, Italy's Edoardo Molinari and Stephen Dodd of Wales.
Noren and Schartzel played in the morning when a sandstorm was blowing in from over the nearby desert.
Tom Watson shot a 73 at his first tournament in Dubai, saying "I missed two or three very short putts in my opening holes."
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