DuBAI // Marcus Fraser went a long way to erasing bad memories of playing in this city, as he finished Day 1 joint-top of a sparkling leaderboard at the Earth Course.
The Australian needed a strong showing in China, where he finished tied-13th in the BMW Masters last weekend, to confirm his participation here.
Ranked 53rd in the Race to Dubai, he went out in the fifth group of the morning, and made the most of the cooler conditions as he carded a six-under round of 66 to set the early lead.
That marked a striking contrast to his last competitive golf here: Fraser had to withdraw from the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in 2014 due to tendinitis in his left hand.
Surgery and the subsequent recuperation meant he missed the majority of last season, including its finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
As such, yesterday’s performance, which included just one dropped shot, tasted all the sweeter.
“I had to miss all of last year,” Fraser said. “After playing well last week and making sure I got in, you know you have done things right if you can come and play this tournament and finish off the year.”
Fraser, world ranked 133, finished the day in illustrious company, sharing the lead with Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter and Andy Sullivan.
Rory McIlroy, the highest-ranked player in the field, was two shots back, thanks in no small part to birdieing the last when he holed from a greenside bunker.
That stroke of class might have attracted the biggest cheer of the day, but it was rivalled earlier on when Sullivan had rolled in his putt at 18.
The effervescent Englishman had a travelling band of supporters cheering him on. They were not difficult to spot, as they were decked out in white polo shirts carrying a large smiley face symbol on the front. It is a fair portrayal of Sullivan’s general demeanour.
“Thirty guys from home went nuts when it dropped in,” Sullivan said of his finish. “Every time they have come and followed me, they have come in droves and that really seemed to help me today.
“Every putt that went in, they were really cheering. For me, it’s a massive sort of thing for me to ‘get up’ for it. I think it is a big plus for me to have that on my side this week.”
pradley@thenational.ae
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