Pampling leads by one shot from Bob Tway

Rod Pampling leads by one shot from Bob Tway after shooting an eight-under 64 in the first round at the Blue Monster course.

It is the first time the Australian has led after one round of a PGA Tour-sanctioned event since the 1999 British Open in Carnoustie.

On that occasion, he made unwanted history by becoming the first player in the tournament's history to lead after the first round and then miss the cut.

"I did everything quite nicely," Pampling said of his performance on Thursday.

"Everything was a tap-in on the par fives, we made a couple of nice ones and ended up being eight under.

Pampling was philosophical about his experience at Carnoustie.

FIRST ROUND SCORES -8 Rod Pampling (Aus) -7 Bob Tway -6 Scott Hoch, Thomas Levet (Fra) -5 Marco Dawson, Carlos Franco (Par), Brent Geiberger, Shaun Micheel

"Obviously, it wasn't great," Pampling said.

"It really didn't bother me because I knew I didn't play bad, the conditions were just unbelievably tough.

"It's just nice to have one under my belt, to actually lead a major."

Former PGA champion Tway was himself eight under after 14 holes but a poor tee shot on the 15th saw him struggling to make a bogey.

"I was scrambling to make bogey," Tway said after his 65.

"We're always thinking it could be better. I think you have to be realistic."

Scott Hoch and British Open runner-up Thomas Levet were at 66, while Carlos Franco of Paraguay finally showed some form and was in the group on 67.

Britain's Colin Montgomerie, who opted to play in Florida rather than Dubai this week, could only manage a level-par 72.

He is one shot behind fellow Britons Luke Donald and Nick Faldo, who both shot 71s.

Dubai Desert Classic

Scotland's Forsyth produced one of his best-ever rounds

Alastair Forsyth produced some flawless golf to take the lead at the Majlis course on Thursday.

A seven-under-par 65, one better than world number two and defending champion Ernie Els, gave the 27-year-old Scot a surprise lead.

But Forsyth might easily have ended the day two ahead of Els rather than just one.

His pitch to the long 18th - his ninth - flew into the hole but came out again.

"I played really solid right through the bag all day," stated the former Scotland amateur international, who won the tour qualifying school in 1999.

Els remains strong favourite for the �200,000 top prize.

A 66 maintained his stroke average for what is already a memorable season - four wins in six starts and scoring records for both the European and US Tours.

FIRST ROUND SCORES -7 Alastair Forsyth (Sco) -6 Ernie Els (SA) -5 Sven Struver (Ger), Greg Owen (Eng), Nick Dougherty (Eng), Jamie Donaldson (Wal), Mikko Ilonen (Fin), Robert-Jan Derksen (Neth)

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke, partnering Els, returned a two-under 70. Liverpudlian Nick Dougherty is joint third after a 67.

Forsyth is among a number of players who have entered next week's Qatar Masters, but may well not be there.

With war against Iraq looming the British Government have advised people to go to Qatar only if they have essential business there.

That is not how Forsyth and others he has spoken to see the $1m event.

"I've pretty much decided I'm not going," he said.

"For the sake of one tournament I don't think it's worth the risk. I'm not sure they (the European tour) would be taking us there if there were any problems, but I just don't fancy it.

"It's the difference between playing 28 or 29 tournaments in a year - is it worth the hassle?" he said.