Abu Dhabi: Johan Edfors lives in Dubai. Mikael Lundberg is awaiting his residence visa to start living in Dubai. And the two Swedes had another thing in common after day one of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship - they shared the lead in the rain-hit $2 million (Dh7.34 million), which left the opening round unfinished.
Edfors and Lundberg shot rounds of six under par 66 to finish day one as joint leaders though another 20 groups were left with unfinished rounds on a dramatic day.
Just after the morning groups had teed off, a rainstorm hit the championship, leaving the course flooded with a heavy downpour for nearly an hour.
Bright sunshine soon followed and the ground staff ensured action resumed and after that the Swedes just seemed to relish the rain-soaked surface.
Joining Edfors and Lundberg was another Swede, Jarmo Sandelin who shot a five under par 67 to share second place with Italian Francesco Molinari and young Englishman Oliver Fisher.
Triple Major winner Padraig Harrington finished with a one under 71 while the only Swede who failed to shine was Henrik Stenson, another Dubai-based star.
Three bogeys and one double-bogey saw Stenson finish with a score of four over 76.
Meanwhile Edfors termed the conditions on the National Course as friendly as he fired six birdies and could have picked another shot too
"I gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities and made a few good putts. Pretty friendly conditions out there, with not much wind," Edfors said.
Lundberg said he has been practicing in Dubai during the winter and was looking forward to set up base.
"I think I will get my residence visa this week. It's fantastic. You can't be in a better place - maybe the US, but it's even further to go. You come here and practice during winter and then you have the tournaments here as well. Its perfect," said the joint leader.
Even as the Swedes dominated, defending champion Martin Kaymer kept himself within striking distance with a round of four under 68, to share third place with Rafael Cabrera Bello of Spain, Richard Green of Australia, South African Andrew McLardy and Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet.
