Kaymer in contention in Dubai

Martin Kaymer edged closer to The Race to Dubai crown – and possibly the World Number One spot as well.

Kaymer went head to head with Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, his only remaining challenger in The Race to Dubai, in the first round of the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World.

Already holding a lead of nearly €290,911, Kaymer sank a 192 yard seven iron for an eagle two at the third and outscored his rival by five with a five under par 67.

That put the 25 year old in third place, two strokes off the lead held by Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, Europe’s Number One two seasons ago.

Needing a top-three finish to have any chance, McDowell almost holed-in-one at the short sixth – as South African Charl Schwartzel did three groups before him – but let Kaymer get away from him with three bogeys in four holes around the turn.

As for the World Number One battle, where Kaymer could dethrone Lee Westwood with a top-two finish, it could go right to the wire on Sunday.

Westwood began his defence of the tournament with a three under par 69 to be in a tie for fifth place.

Kaymer and McDowell are both trying for an incredible €2,000,000 jackpot on Sunday – €910,348 from the tournament itself and then a €1,092,418 bonus for topping the money list.

Karlsson holed a 114 yard pitch for an eagle three at the long 14th and with birdies at the 16th and 17th required a four on the 620 yard last to break Westwood’s course record from the closing round 12 months ago.

However, he drove poorly and instead took six to slip back to seven under.

Korean teenager Noh Seung-yul was one behind after a 66 and Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee occupied fourth spot on his own at four under.

McDowell, who is down in joint 25th position, said: “I didn’t feel 100 per cent out there and I’m very happy with level par considering I started throwing shots away like they were going out of fashion.

“Obviously it was a tough day. Martin came out of the traps early and left me in the dust literally.

“I was struggling to get going and had a couple of careless three-putts, but I’m happy with how I dug in. I need a big weekend, but he’s five shots ahead of me, that’s all.”

As for watching Kaymer make eagle from the fairway so early he added: “When a guy holes a shot like that it’s great to see. It was a wonderful shot.”