Golf: Birdies fly in for McIlroy

Nobody could complain about the quality of the leaderboard when the Omega Dubai Desert Classic began today - even before Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer had teed off.

Rory McIlroy, whose only European Tour win so far came at the Emirates Club two years ago, had four successive birdies around the turn to set the pace at six under par.

He already led by three from a group which included defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez, former world No.?2 Sergio Garcia and 2004 Open champion Todd Hamilton.

With a chance to move up from his seventh place in the world to a career-high fourth, McIlroy completed a back-nine 33, four under, with an eight-foot putt and then started the outward half with two more birdies.