The Dubai Desert Classic was Tiger Woods’ chance to take the lead, ending seven under par, in a tournament where the world’s best ranked golf player attempts to reclaim a title he won two years ago. The first round of the $2.5 million competition was a pretty good start for Woods, who is hoping to regain the title he had lost in 2007, when he finished third here.

The 2006 Dubai winner couldn’t have been happier, as he confessed to the reporters, on his 10th hole: “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.”

Woods needs to put Dubai on his victory list, as most people predicted 2008 will be his year… again. His amazing comeback and his possible fifth straight tournament victory would only go to show that Woods is the undeniable master of this sport.

The Dubai opening round found Woods’ playing mates two strokes behind, namely Pelle Edberg from Sweden, Thomas Levet from France and Miguel Angel Jimenez from Spain, and things could only look promising for the 2006 champion.

The first and only time Woods won the Dubai tournament was two years ago, when he defeated the three-time winner of the tournament Ernie Els. The victory was settled over a disputed play-off, but it came to a happy ending for the American player.

The Dubai Dessert Classic annual professional golf tournament first started in 1989 and is now known for attracting some of the biggest names in golf, with this year being no exception. As of 2009, the $10 million Dubai World Championship is said to challenge the P.G.A. FedEx Cup and become probably one of golf’ biggest attractions.