Big guns faltered in the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic with English golfer Ross Fisher and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell sharing a seven-under-par 65 lead on Thursday.

The pair started to come to fore late in the day, moving just ahead of three-times champion Ernie Els who is a stroke behind with Jyoti Randhawa of India, Jose Manuel Lara of Spain, though he had hit a 66 earlier in the day. World No.1 and defending champion Tiger Woods had a frustrating day starting the tournament with a 68.

Speaking to the reporters after the round, the 27-year old McDowell said that he was happy with his display. "This course seems to be a game of two nines. The front nine doesn't really give up a whole lot of chances. I knew the back nine would yield a lot of birdies. I was very happy when I got on there and birdied 10 and then got things moving with an eagle on 13", he said.

Fisher, who hit eight birdies and one bogey at the Emirates Golf Club, said that he was excited at the possibility of playing in the same group as Woods. “It is still early days but it would be a thrill to see what he's like up close and in person. Probably the closest I've got to him was at the 1998 World Match Play Championship (at Wentworth) when I used to work up there, walking past him picking up his balls on the practice range", said the 26-year old Englishman.

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