Andy Sullivan shot a stunning 11 under par round of 61 to set a new Fire Course record at Jumeirah Golf Estates and take a two-shot lead into round two of the inaugural Golf in Dubai Championship presented by DP World.
The Englishman recorded 11 birdies and flirted with just the second 59 in European Tour history, after Oli Fisher at the 2018 Portugal Masters, before parring his last two holes in a brilliant bogey-free opening round.
Sullivan also set the course record en route to his fourth European Tour title at the 2020 English Championship in August and he now tops a tightly packed leaderboard, with fellow countrymen Matt Wallace and Ross Fisher and Frenchman Antoine Rozner his closest challengers on nine under par.
Scottish duo Craig Howie and Marc Warren and Swede Oscar Lengden are in a tie for fifth at eight under par, with Italian pair Lorenzo Scalise and Francesco Laporta, Sweden’s Rikard Karlberg and Spaniard Pep Angles one shot further back.
Wednesday marked the 49th United Arab Emirates National Day, and Emirati invitational golfer Ahmed Skaik hit the opening tee shot to start the new event as the Fire Course made its European Tour debut.
European Tour Release, Dec 02, 2020
