16 January 2025 - Dubai, UAE; DP World Tour - American amateur David Ford claimed a share of the first-round lead at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic after a stunning 65 on his second DP World Tour start.
Ford's seven-under total at Emirates Golf Club was matched by Portugal's Ricardo Gouveia and Australian David Micheluzzi.
Ford, who earned his tournament invite after topping the PGA TOUR University Ranking, eagled the tenth – his first hole of the day – and mixed six birdies with a single bogey.

Currently sixth in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, the 2023 Walker Cup winner insisted hie came into the week with minimal expectations. "It was great" said Ford. "I got a couple putts to fall that I didn't know were going to go in hit a lot of good iron shots. I love where the pins were set up today. I felt like a lot of them fit my eye. Overall, solid. Definitely missed a few shots and want a few swings back but overall, felt good about it.
I try to keep my expectations low. I know where my game is at right now and I have got a lot of people around me believing in me which is really helpful going into this week. I just tried to have fun. Just come out here and do the preparation that I do for college events and just keep everything really simple and keep having fun.
The plan right now is to turn pro in May after the National Championship. Things could change. But yeah, right now, from the outside looking in, I think just planning to turn pro in May. Until then, just play a lot of golf, hang out with the team and have a lot of fun."
Meanwhile, Micheluzzi had seven birdies in a flawless opening round – a remarkable achievement given the 28-year-old had never played the Majlis Course before. "Never played it before - it's a tough golf course" said Micheluzzi. "Everyone is saying how tough it was and today I played great. There's nothing more to it.
It was nice for the first, I'd say, like 11, 12 holes and then the wind got up a little bit. Just kept hitting good shots, and stumped a few shots where I probably wasn't aiming. Got lucky with those, and then hold some nice putts coming in.
Just go out and enjoy it. Last year was, I'd say, nerve-wracking, first year out, it's always tough, new venues every week. Just want to look forward to every event and play the best I can, and I started well this week, which is nice."
Gouveia is still looking for his maiden DP World Tour win in his 190th event but arrived in Dubai full of confidence after finishing third at the Genesis Championship on his last start of 2024 to keep his card, having begun the week knowing he needed to finish in the top five.
Italy's Guido Migliozzi sits fourth after an opening 66, with Mike Lorenzo-Vera of France a shot further back in a share of fifth on his return from a six-month break to address his mental health.
Lorenzo-Vera was joined on five under by Australian Jason Scrivener and Scottish pair Calum Hill and Ewen Ferguson, while four-time Hero Dubai Desert Classic winner Rory McIlroy opened his title defence with a two under par round of 70. For McIlroy it was a slow start to what looks like being a huge year in his career. 2024 was yet another consistent and successful year for Rory, with 4 wins and 9 other top 10 finishes, but it had one glaring omission - a first Major victory since 2014. The pain of Pinehurst was clear for all to see, but in 2025 he has the ultimate opportunity to bounce back and finally break his major duck, winning a fifth, and first for 11 years. With the Majors being played at Augusta National, Quail Hollow, Oakmont and Royal Portrush, there can be no doubt the Northern Irishman will be confident of adding to his major tally. But before that he has the weekend ahead of him in Dubai, a place where has has dominated in the last decade and more.
"Yeah, pretty scrappy. Actually I felt I played probably better the first eight holes where I was one over compared to the last ten where I was three under" said Rory. "First competitive round of the year. First competitive round in a while. A little uncomfortable over some shots. Definitely not as comfortable as I was in practise and coming in here.
But it's nice to get a card in your hand. It sort of exposes the things that you need to work on. I got it around today. I got it around and got it in in a couple under, which is nice, and didn't put myself out of the tournament, which is the main thing."
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