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Richard Sterne posted first round 64 to take the lead after the opening day of the 2021 Omega Dubai Desert Classic. The South African carded nine birdies and one bogey on his way to the top of the leaderboard at eight under par. American Kurt Kitayama is a shot back after 65 today. Sergio Garcia and Justin Harding are at six under par and share third spot on the current leaderboard.
First round leaderboard:
Richard Sterne is playing his fifth tournament since the resumption of the season after the COVID-19 break. Sterne is a six-time European Tour winner, but his last triumph came more than seven years ago at the 2013 Joburg Open.
Sergio Garcia played solid golf today and carded six birdies without to drop a shot. The Spaniard is not playing his best golf recently and as a result dropped to 45th in the world. Garcia won in Dubai in 2017 when he finished three clear of Henrik Stenson.
It is nice to see Paul Casey playing again in regular European Tour events. The Englishman is at the group at five under par and shares fifth place on the current leaderboard.