Allenby grabs first-round lead in Dubai, Westwood and McIlroy close

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Robert Allenby shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday for a one-shot lead after the first round of the season-ending Dubai World Championship, while Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy kept up their battle for the European Tour money title.

Allenby, a 38-year-old Australian who plays mainly on the PGA Tour, had eight birdies and only one bogey on the Earth Course, which is hosting the $7.5 million final event of the European Tour season.

Allenby was one shot ahead of England's Westwood, Chris Woods and Colombian Camilo Villegas, who all shot 6-under 66s.

When the tournament ends Sunday, the top player on the European Tour's money list will win a $1.5 million bonus from the new Race to Dubai.

Westwood, lying second in the race, was two shots ahead of money leader McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who shot a 68. Westwood produced three birdies in the final four holes to boost his chances of overtaking McIlroy's $191,000 lead in the money race.

The two other players in contention for the money title were further off the pace. Germany's Martin Kaymer shot a 71, and England's Ross Fisher had a 73.

It was only last weekend that Allenby, resting at his home in Florida, decided to travel to Dubai with a new set of clubs in his bag. He adjusted quickly to their feel on the desert course, designed by fellow Australian Greg Norman.

Allenby, who has missed only one cut in European Tour events in 10 years, approached his club suppliers Srixon for a new set of irons to comply with new rules on clubhead grooves which come into force on Jan. 1.

"They were sent to my home in Florida after I returned from the HSBC tournament in Shanghai and they were just sitting there," he said. "But when I hit them once on the range, I really liked the way they felt.

"Although I was not gaining a lot of distance with them, I tried to work out what I needed to do to create more spin with them and now my ball flight is so much better than it was," he added. "I definitely liked them and I have really noticed a big change."

Earlier in the day, Villegas and Wood -- playing for the first time in a month after injuring an ankle falling down a flight of stairs during a tournament in Spain -- had taken the clubhouse lead with 66s.

The 21-year-old Wood, third at the British Open in July, turned in 34 and then covered the "Golden Mile" closing four-hole stretch with four successive birdies. And that after his ankle began to hurt again on the 15th tee.

"That's the first time I've played 18 holes since the injury. I was on crutches for two and a half weeks but it's recovered well," said Wood. "The ankle started aching on the 15th tee and I thought, 'I'll take 1 under for the closing stretch', but I managed to birdie every one."

Villegas arrived in Dubai saying he was tired after a recent hectic international schedule that took him to tournaments in Spain, China and New Zealand. "If you look at it, that's five nights spent on a plane in one month and that's something I am going to have to get used if I am to play schedules on both sides of the Atlantic," he said.

For his part, Westwood gave playing partner McIlroy something to think about, as his sparkling 66 put Westwood back in position to capture a second European Tour Order of Merit title.

Not that McIlroy had a bad day. His 68 leaves him in a tie for fifth. But if those positions were to stay the same, Westwood will be crowned champion on Sunday.

McIlroy will take the title regardless of how he plays if Westwood finishes outside the top seven, Kaymer outside the top four and Fisher outside the top two.

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