Rory McIlroy Leads in Dubai

Most of the sports world is focused on Phoenix this week as the Seahawks and Patriots prepare for the Super Bowl. With the big game in town things at the Waste Management Phoenix Open always get a little crazier.

With Tiger Woods playing for the first time this season things got crazier still.

But the former world number one simply stunk up the place yesterday. There is no other way to put it.

On the other side of the world, far from the hype in Phoenix the current world number one seems in fine form.

Rory McIlroy shot a flawless eight under par 64 to take the lead at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

From European Tour.com:

Rory McIlroy produced a sensational eight under par 64 at the scene of his first professional victory to grab a one shot halfway lead at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.  

The World Number One has followed three wins – two of them Major Championships – with a hat-trick of runner-up finishes in his last six European Tour starts, and continued that majestic form at Emirates Golf Club. Victory here in 2009 set McIlroy on his way to the pinnacle of the game, and the chances of a repeat look good after a flawless eight-birdie round that left him one ahead of Scotland’s Marc Warren. 

After driving the 351 yard par four second and two-putting for birdie, the 25 year old got up-and down from rough at the par five second and holed a 30 footer at the fifth.  

He made light work of the long tenth, fired his tee shot to a couple of feet at the short 11th and, having missed good birdie chances at the next three holes, finally made another gain after a massive drive at the 16th was followed by a wedge to six feet. He almost drove the 359 yard 17th, where a chip and putt secured birdie, and finished with a 12 footer for a closing hat-trick of gains and 14 under par total.  

Earlier Warren, who pushed Branden grace all the way in Abu Dhabi last week, birdied two of his last three holes courtesy of putts from 25 feet at the seventh and 12 feet at the ninth for a round of 65.  

 McIlroy’s compatriot Graeme McDowell was also round in a seven under 65 to sit alongside England’s Seve Benson (66) on 12 under, with defending champion Stephen Gallacher, former World Number One Lee Westwood and overnight leader Bernd Wiesberger a shot further back.