Francesco Molinari of Italy shot a 7-under 65 to take a two-shot lead at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday.

Battling windy conditions, Molinari had eight birdies and a bogey at Emirates Golf Club. He has not won a tournament since The Open Championship at Carnoustie in 2018.

Another former Open winner, Rory McIlroy, didn’t fare as well. He shot a 73 after his double bogey on the par-5 18th hole. Englishman Tommy Fleetwood also finished with a 73 following three bogeys in a stretch of five holes.

Molinari, by contrast, closed with birdies on his final three holes.

“Not super unexpected, but I wasn’t expecting a score like that,” Molinari said, adding the “putter was the biggest difference to be honest.

“Made some nice putts. Kept the round going in the middle where I played a couple of iffy holes and made some good pars. Obviously very, very pleased with the start.”

Alone in second place at 5-under is Sweden’s Mikael Lindberg, who built his 67 on four birdies, an eagle and a bogey.

“It was a great day. It was very good. We’re off to a very hot start and holed a few good putts there in the beginning and then kind of slowed down a little bit. But managed to birdie the last,” he said. “That was good.”

Joel Girrbach of Switzerland and JC Ritchie of South Africa stand tied for third after rounds of 68. American Patrick Reed (69) is among seven players to trail Molinari by four strokes.

–Field Level Media