DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Retief Goosen overcame a long off-season Thursday and shot 8-under-par 64 to share first place after the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic.
He is tied with Richard Green and Jamie Donaldson.
"It was nice to get off to that start and then I had a good run in the middle of the course," said Goosen, who has not played this tournament since 2001.
David Lynn and Ross Bain both shot 6-under 66.
Tiger Woods, who made his 2006 debut last week with a playoff win at the Buick Invitational, carded a 5-under 67 and is tied for sixth place with Paul Casey, Nick Dougherty, Niclas Fasth, Nick O'Hern and last week's Qatar Masters champion, Henrik Stenson.
Defending champion and three-time winner Ernie Els shot 4-under 68, as did Darren Clarke, Costantino Rocca, Lee Westwood and Barry Lane.
