Matthew Fitzpatrick lit up Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course on the first day of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic as the Englishman carded a magical seven under par 65 to set the early pace at the ‘Major of the Middle East’.
The 24 year old, who is no stranger to winning in Dubai having sealed the biggest triumph of his career at the 2016 DP World Tour Championship, only picked up one shot on his front nine before tearing up the back nine with six birdies including five in his last six holes to take a one-shot lead heading into the second round.
Solo leader ✍🏼
And his lowest opening round score in four years.#ODDC19 pic.twitter.com/1Bk4lgFw2a
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) January 24, 2019
“It was obviously a great finish to the round,” said the five-time European Tour winner, who is looking to extend his run of having won a European Tour title every season since securing his playing privileges in 2015.
“A couple of things that I’ve been doing in the off-season sort of looked to have paid off a little bit, so I just added a bit of extra length to my driver, so it’s given me a few yards to help get on in two on the last because I’ve never been able to do that. And then, yeah, just wedging it a lot better has given me a few more chances coming in.”
Fitzpatrick holds a one-stroke lead over eight players including 2017 winner Sergio Garcia, five-time PGA Tour winner Bryson DeChambeau and Englishman Callum Shinkwin who only qualified for the event earlier this week at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic Shootout at Dubai Hills Golf Club.
“Playing six, seven days on the trot is hard on the body and the mind,” said 25 year old Shinkwin. “But yeah, winning also helps anyone. If you win, you feel more comfortable straight away. Even if it’s just a qualifier, it feels great. The game feels great. It’s felt great for the last two or three months and now I’m finally showing what I can do.”
Last year’s winner Haotong Li is one shot further back in a share of tenth place while back-to-back winner Stephen Gallacher is tied 19th with 11 players including 2017 Race to Dubai Champion Tommy Fleetwood and three-time Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner Ernie Els.
