Dubai: Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger has refused to speculate that a win is just around the corner after equalling his best ever score with an eight under par 64 to lead by a stroke after round one of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on Thursday.
The 29-year-old’s early contention has come as no surprise, after he finished tied for sixth at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship two weeks ago and tied for third at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters last week — his first two events of the year.
But he was quick to distance himself from the suggestion that he was due a win on account of his progressive form.
“I think round two is just around the corner [not victory], I’m not thinking too far ahead,” said Wiesberger, who got two birdies on his front nine before returning with six on his return, five of which were consecutive from holes 13 to 17.
“I was really looking forward to the start of the year in order to make a strong start. I made a lot of good results at the end of last year with a couple of top-20s, but I just couldn’t get higher.
“I knew I was playing decent and, when I got in the groove with my putter, it really settled my long game.
“I just had a problem with the pace on the greens early on today and I left a lot of good chances out there, but I got two chances before the turn and that gave me confidence for the back nine. From there I never jumped off the train. It was nice to get to eight under.
“I was a bit disappointed to have parred the last as that would have been my first 63 out here, but it’s still a great day,” he added.
Wiesberger is a shot clear of Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, America’s Peter Uihlein and England’s Lee Westwood and Andy Sullivan, who are all tied at seven under par.
All the players wore black ribbons in memory of local amateur Ashok Bakshi, who died of a suspected heart attack while warming up on the driving range ahead of the pro-am on Wednesday, and Australian 1960 Open championship winner Kel Nagle, who died aged 94 on Thursday.
Uihlein came the closest to challenging Wiesberger’s clubhouse lead, having reached eight under par through to the 16th hole with five birdies on his front nine and three on his return, before bogeying the 17th.
“It was a nice start,” said Uihlein. “I took advantage of some good early looks and played the par fives well, which is key, so it was a good solid day.
“I putted well, the greens are perfect and the ball generally always seems to roll in over here. I felt like I converted a lot of opportunities, so it was nice.
“I got too cute on 17 and went in a little too heavy, but in general I’m putting some good scores together. Who knows, if you keep making weekends and giving yourself a chance you never know what can happen,” he added of his contention.
