On the opening day today (Thursday), blustery conditions failed to blow out the charge of an in-form Westwood, the current leader of the European Tour Order Of Merit. The Englishman maintained his recent run of form thanks to a round that was flawless with five birdies giving him a share of the lead.

 

“Obviously my confidence is good,” said Westwood. “I think ten Top ten finishes in the last eleven events can't help but make me confident. You're always a bit mindful when you have a long break, but in the middle of that long break, I finished fourth in Tiger's event. Last week in Abu Dhabi I came out and started slowly, felt a little rusty especially on the greens but got it going on Saturday and got into the tournament and had a chance on Sunday.”

 

But while Westwood has kept his good form from Abu Dhabi where he finished joint second, as week’s champion had a less than sparkling day as Germany’s Martin Kaymer shot a three-over par 75.

 

“I remember when I won my first tournament, it was nearly impossible to concentrate the following week so I'm not surprised he shot a few over today,” added Westwood. “Martin’s not used to being in contention yet. I've won golf tournaments and I've won them back‑to‑back so I know how to approach the following week when you've played well.

  

“He's very much on the learning curve, he's won his first tournament last week and he's probably still on a high. But you learn to handle that and he'll win many more tournaments.

 

While Westwood has eighteen European Tour titles to his name and is a former European No.1, 21 year-old Haig is at the other end of the experience spectrum with last year’s Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand being his sole Tour success. But the towering South African was more than happy to shoot six birdies and join Westwood at the top of the leader board – a bogey six on the ninth the only flaw on a near perfect day.

 

“It's a tough struggle out there, especially with the windy conditions and there are a lot of good players,” he said. “I played really well today and I’m slowly feeling that I can compete with the big guys again but it's not easy as you’ve got Henrik Stenson, Adam Scott, Luke Donald - it's really hard to put yourself in a positive mind frame when you know these guys are coming after you. So I just have to keep my head down and knuckle down to the best of my ability.”

 

As well as good rounds for Westwood and Haig, there were positive early moves by former champions Adam Scott (below)and Henrik Stenson, Germany’s Marcel Siem, Spain’s Sergio Garcia, Johan Edfors and Alex Noren of Sweden and England’s Paul Broadhurst who all carded first round scores of 69 (-3) to sit two behind the early leaders.

 

For Saudi Arabian amateur Othman Al Mulla the opening round proved a tough challenge and he finished day one with a an eight-over par round of 80.