After all the hype and eager anticipation,the inaugural Dubai World Championship presented by: DP World at Jumeirah Golf Estates is finally up and running, with Welsh duo Jamie Donaldson and Bradley Dredge the first to tee off at the Earth Course.
Donaldson, who claimed the final spot at the tournament after finishing tied 50th at the UBS Hong Kong Open at the weekend, picked up a birdie on the 454 yard par four first while Dredge made par.
Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood have been swapping positions at the head of The Race to Dubai for the last few weeks and they will get their bid to become European Number One underway early in the afternoon along with fellow contenders Martin Kaymer and Ross Fisher.
McIlroy arrived at the tournament on the back of a pleasing display at the UBS Hong Kong Open where he finished runner up to Gregory Bourdy and should he finish higher than his three competitors he will become the second youngest European Number One behind Seve Ballesteros.
