Hanson grabs Dubai World Championship lead

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Peter Hanson tied the course record with an 8-under-par 64 Thursday in taking a one-stroke lead at the European Tour's Dubai World Championship.

Half of Hanson's eight birdies on the day came in consecutive holes as he tied the record at the Jumeirah Golf Estates. Lee Westwood set the record two years ago en route to winning the first Dubai World Championship.

Paul Lawrie, whose seven birdies came in a 10-hole span, is second at 7-under with Rory McIlroy, despite a double-bogey after a lost ball at the par-5 second hole, in third at 6-under. Sergio Garcia had five birdies and a double bogey in his last six holes and sits in fourth at 5-under 67.

Hanson was 2-under, after birdies at Nos. 2 and 5, when he made the turn Thursday and moved into contention with four straight birdies over Nos. 10-13. He added birdies at 15 and 17 in getting to 8-under.

McIlroy needs to win the Dubai World Championship and have Luke Donald finish outside the Top Nine to win the European Tour's 2011 money title. If that doesn't happen, Donald, who is tied for 26th after an even-par 72 Thursday, will be the first person to lead the year-end money lists on both the European Tour and PGA Tour in the same year.