The surprise has come in the emirate: Rafa Cabrero-Bello has become the leader after the first round at the Dubai Desert Classic after signing an impressive card of 63 strokes (-9). The Canarian finished his day with nine birdies and no bogey, and missed several more birdie chances, which, if he had holed them, would have meant a historic result. The Spaniard led by two strokes ahead of Marcel Siem and Scott Jamison. Cabrera-Bello played by textbook throughout the day and only missed one green, leaving even more birdie options that could have taken his round to a historic result. The Canarian finished his day with nine birdies and no bogey for an immaculate card.
Alvaro Quiros, one of the favorites to win at the Emirates Golf Club, for his victories in Dubai in February and December last year, finished the first round with -2 thanks to a very good second nine holes in which the Guadiaro recovered from his bad start. Jimenez was tied with the Cadiz-born player by signing a round with four birdies and two bogeys. Of the other Spaniards playing in Dubai, Pablo Larrazábal recorded a round of -2, and with -1 closed the day José María Olazabal, José Manuel Lara and Alejandro Cañizares.
The duel between the world’s number two, three and four players was the highlight of the tournament. Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (-6), who made seven birdies in the last ten holes, and Germany’s Martin Kaymer (-6) with an eagle on the 18th, were in the lead, while England’s Lee Westwood totaled -3 in his first round.
Cabrera-Bello stated that “just a second after making birdie on the 11th, I tried to calculate what I needed to make 59.” “Then I told myself I had to stop thinking about nonsense and not be so ambitious,” he added. “It’s a really good result, but in itself it doesn’t mean anything. You have to keep your feet on the ground and think how many leaders after the first round win a tournament. Not many,” he concluded.
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