Golf: Dodd enjoys a birdie feast in Abu Dhabi

WELSHMAN Stephen Dodd reeled off four consecutive birdies to set a blistering pace on the opening morning of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship today.

Dodd made a slow steady start to his opening circuit around the National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club before charging to a one-shot lead over veteran Barry Lane, Italian amateur Matteo Manassero, South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen and Swede Niclas Fasth.

Lane, playing in his 650th European Tour event this week, reached the turn in three-under-par 33 with a late brace of birdies, while Oosthuizen charged up the early leaderboard with an eagle at the par five eighth.

Last year Oosthuizen, who finished 12th at the Joburg Open last week, claimed a runner-up finish in Abu Dhabi before going on to complete a brilliant desert swing by adding a another second place in Qatar and a seventh in Dubai.

Manassero made history last June when, aged 16, he became the youngest winner of the British amateur title.

Defending champion Paul Casey made an encouraging start to his bid for a third eagle trophy in four years despite still struggling with the rib problem with blighted his 2009 after joining Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee in a group at two-under-par.