McIlroy leads with 'stunning' 63 at 2.5 mln-dollar Dubai Desert Classic

Northern Irish golf star Rory McIlroy has taken the lead with an impressive 63 in the first round of the 2.5 million-dollar Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday.

Firing seven birdies and an eagle, the former world number one continued his storming start to the season which saw him take second place at Abu Dhabi two weeks ago, and left in the shade playing partner Tiger Woods, who settled for a four-under 68 in his second tournament of the year.

According to Sport24, it was the first 63 in tournament play for McIlroy since the first round of the Hong Kong Open in 2010, and the golfer said that the round and score was one of his finest for a while.

The report mentioned that the third member of McIlroy's group, defending champion Stephen Gallacher of Scotland, was also high up the early leaderboard with a 66, while Italian Ryder Cup player Edoardo Molinari came in with a 65 to be solo in second place two shots behind McIlroy.

A shot further back level with Frenchman Julien Quesne and Gallacher were South African Richard Sterne, Ireland's Damien McGrane and Matthew Baldwin of England, the report added.