Omega Dubai Desert Classic: Day One in Numbers

Plenty of key numbers in the opening round at Emirates GC as Rory McIlroy stormed into the lead after some peerless play in Dubai.

<strong>63</strong>– carded by McIlroy during the first round on the Majilis Course

<strong>7</strong>– birdies and one eagle, at the par five third hole, on Thursday

<strong>2</strong>– strokes short of the course record set by Ernie Els in the first round of the 1994 event en route to the title

<strong>2009</strong>– the last time he won this title, his first professional victory

<strong>19</strong>– years old when McIlroy won the title, the youngest man to win this title

<strong>0805</strong>– the time that this morning’s marquee group teed off, with McIlroy alongside defending Champion Stephen Gallacher (-6) and World Number One Tiger Woods (-4)

<strong>0</strong>– the number of people who have successfully defended this title

<strong>11</strong>– nationalities in the top ten (16 players)

<strong>5</strong>– strokes covering the top ten

<strong>13</strong>– eagles on day one, four at the par five tenth

<strong>6^th</strong>– hole averaged the most difficult on Thursday (4.333)

<strong>4.568</strong>– scoring average on the par five tenth, the easiest hole

<strong>17</strong>– greens hit by the most accurate plays during the first 18 holes (Ricardo Gonazalez and Soren Kjeldsen)

<strong>1</strong>– under par is the current cut mark (68 players)

<strong>1989</strong>- the first year of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic was first held, won by Mark James

<strong>1</strong>– player has played in all 25 stagings of this event, Barry Lane

<strong>5</strong>– The number of wire-to-wire winners in the history of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic – Eamonn Darcy (1990), Seve Ballesteros (1992), Ernie Els (1994), José Coceres (2000) and Rory McIlroy (2009)