DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Rafael Cabrera-Bello fired a 9-under-par 63 Thursday and leads the European Tour's Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Cabrera-Bello had nine birdies in his first 11 holes in taking the first-round lead. Scott Jamieson and Marcel Siem are tied for second at 7-under 65. Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer are among seven players tied for fourth at 6-under.
Siem was in position to challenge Cabrera-Bello's lead but had his second shot at the par-5, 564-yard 18th land in a lake and he ended up with a bogey. Jamieson's round included five birdies -- three on par 3s -- and an eagle at the 550-yard, par-5 13th.
Cabrera-Bello opened play on the second nine of the Emirates Golf Club with back-to-back birdies. He had a par at the 12th hole but birdied 13 and 14 before a par at 15.
He then ran off five consecutive birdies, getting to 9-under after 11 holes. He had seven pars the rest of the way.
"Just for a second after the birdie on No. 2 (his 11th hole) I tried to do the maths on what I needed for 59," Cabrera-Bello said. "Then I told myself to stop being foolish and don't be too greedy.
"Nothing wrong happened -- there were some tough holes to come and I didn't drop a stroke."
