R1 LEADERBOARD GB&Ire unless stated -8 J Donaldson, R Goosen (SA), R Green (Aus) -6 D Lynn, R Bain -5 N Dougherty, P Casey, T Woods (US), H Stenson (Swe), N Fasth (Swe), N O'Hern (Aus) Selected others: -4 D Clarke, E Els (SA), L Westwood -2 D Howell +2 C Montgomerie

Donaldson shares the lead with South Africa's Retief Goosen and Australia's Richard Green on eight under par.

World number one Woods is three shots back, while world number five Ernie Els is in the hunt on four under par.

Scotland's European Order of Merit champion Colin Montgomerie is two over after a disappointing 74.

On Thursday, it was revealed that Montgomerie has agreed a �15m divorce settlement with his former wife.

Scotland's Ross Bain and England's David Lynn are two shots off the lead in fourth, while compatriots Nick Dougherty and Paul Casey are tied for sixth with Woods and Sweden's Henrik Stenson.

Worksop's Lee Westwood shares 12th with South Africa's Els and Ulsterman Darren Clarke.

Woods got off to a blistering start and was four under through four after sinking a 40-foot seven-iron chip for eagle-three at the third.

But a bogey six on the 10th stopped his momentum and after birdies at the 11th and 13th he could only par his way home.

Woods, who won last week's Buick Invitational, said he was impressed with playing partner Stenson, who won in Qatar last week and was second in Abu Dhabi the week before that.

I must say coming out I didn't expect a lot Retief Goosen

"We're about the same age and I can see that he has come on a lot in the last couple of years," said Woods.

Donaldson's round was despite his ongoing battles with a hereditary spinal deformity problem that requires him to do daily exercises.

The warmth of the Dubai sun, he said, was a helpful factor: "I do feel a lot freer when it is warmer," he said.

"I feel more comfortable and there is less a chance of me getting a problem with it."

Goosen was returning to competition after a six-week break in South Africa.

And the world number three did not take long to get back into the groove, eagling the par-five 13th as he went out in five-under.

Three more birdies on the front nine gave him the clubhouse lead in a tournament he has yet to win.

"I must say coming out I didn't expect a lot," said Goosen. "In the exhibition match I was hitting it pretty bad, but I was putting well.

"That's what I did today. I missed a lot of fairways, but I made a lot of putts."