Flawless Woods takes lead in Dubai

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Tiger Woods made a flawless start to his bid for a second Dubai Desert Classic title on Thursday, carding a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 to open up a two-stroke lead over a group of 11 players.

The world number one showed no ill-effects of his Tuesday morning arrival in Dubai after claiming a record sixth Buick Invitational on Sunday and signed for seven birdies in a round which he admitted included just one bad shot at the 13th.

Miguel Angel Jimenez and Abu Dhabi Golf Championship winner Martin Kaymer, were among those tied for second at 67.

Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia and defending champion Henrik Stenson headed a group of 10 others another stroke back.

"I played well today, I hit a bunch of good shots. The only bad shot I really hit today was at the par-five 13th, other than that, I really hit the ball well," said Woods. Watch exclusive CNN interview with Woods »

Woods said he played better in Dubai than he did last week at Torrey Pines.

"I had two good days of practice the last couple days and started to hit the ball a lot better than I did last week," said Woods, who won the Dubai tournament in 2006.

Last year, Woods was plagued by poor putting and finished third here. He missed a few chances Thursday, but wasn't complaining.

"I had a couple of good opportunities to make some putts and just kind of ran them over the edge, but overall today was just -- couldn't ask for a better start," the world's No. 1 player said.

Jet lag also didn't appear to bother him.

"The better shape I've gotten, the easier it is. I don't usually have a problem. It usually takes me maybe a day and I'm good to go," said Woods, who arrived in Dubai on Tuesday after flying halfway around the world to the oil-rich United Arab Emirates.

Woods' dominant win at the Buick Invitational was his fourth straight and 62nd career title, tying Arnold Palmer for fourth place on the PGA Tour list. If he triumphs in Dubai, it will be his seventh win in eight starts.

"He's playing at a very good level at the moment," Garcia said. "We know that the only thing we can do is keep trying, keep trying, keep playing our hardest and, you know, try to challenge him as much as possible."

Colin Montgomerie, who played in the same pairing with Woods, banged his driver on the turf after hitting a wayward shot at the ninth hole. Though the Scot made four birdies, he also had two double-bogeys -- including at the ninth -- to finish at 72.

Woods, who started on the 10th, stamped his authority from the off as he chipped to within an inch from the greenside rough after taking on the pin at the par five with his second shot.

He overcame the disappointment of playing his solitary bad shot at the 13th with an eight-foot birdie putt a hole later before reaching the turn three-under-par after two-putting the par-five 18th from 35 meters.

He was quickly four-under with a 20-meter birdie putt at the first before another birdie followed three holes later after hitting his seven-iron tee shot into the par three to just two meters.

Eight-meter putts at the par-three seventh and par-three eighth accounted for Woods' remaining birdies to put the American in a strong position to repeat his 2006 victory at the Emirates Golf Club.

Pelle Edberg, Thomas Levet, Jeev Milka Singh, Graeme McDowell, Scott Hend, Jyoti Randhawa, Andrew McLardy, Simon Dyson and Gary Murphy are the other players battling it out behind Woods.

Hong Kong Open champion Jimenez made his move up the leaderboard after picking up four shots over his last fives holes, highlighted by a hole-in-one at the seventh hole, his 16th. E-mail to a friend