Tied 14th after Rd 1, Jeev off to strong start in Dubai

Dubai: The opening hole birdie set the tone for the day and Jeev Milkha Singh turned in a sedate two-under

70 to be tied 14th after the opening round of the USD 7.5 million Dubai World Championship golf tournament here on Thursday. But for that third hole bogey, Jeev had hardly anything to complain about his front nine at the picturesque Earth Course of the Jumeirah Golf Estates. The Indian birdied the opening hole before the third hole setback left him even-par. Jeev responded with birdies on the fifth and ninth holes to go two-under at the turn. Once again, his progress was somewhat compromised with the bogey on the par-four 12th hole. Two par shots later, Jeev redeemed himself, sinking a birdie on the par-four 15th and parred the next three holes to sign off with a two-under card. Australian Robert Allenby blasted a sensational seven-under 65 for the opening round lead over Columbian Camilo Villegas and Englishmen Chris Wood and Lee Westwood, who blasted identical 66s to share the second spot. Allenby`s power-packed round was studded with eight birdies as against the lone 14th hole bogey. Bureau Report