Irish trio four off the clubhouse lead in Dubai

Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Jonathan Caldwell all posted rounds of 71 to sit four shots off the clubhouse lead on the first day of the Dubai Desert Classic.

McIlroy and Lowry were both three under as they started well but produced two bogeys on their back nine to move into the middle of the pack.

Lowry will be particularly disappointed as he had not dropped a shot up until his 17th and 18th holes on the par four eighth and ninth.

Two Spaniards lead on five under at this early stage. Sergio Garcia and Pablo Larrazabal are the head of the leaderboard, while Colin Morikawa is among a host of players a shot further back.

Padraig Harrington is the other Irish player on course and will finish his round around noon.

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