Dubai - Ernie Els got off to a storming start in the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday with a run of an eagle and three birdies from the third hole.
That more than offset a bogey four at the second and hoisted the three-times former winner into a joint share of the early lead at four-under through seven holes alongside Jose Manuel Lara of Spain who was in the group behind.
Els has said he finally feels back in a position to challenge Tiger Woods after 18 months of injury and self doubt brought on by damaged knee ligaments and he opened his season last week with a third-place finish at the Qatar Masters behind compatriot Retief Goosen.
He lost to world No 1 Woods in a dramatic playoff here last year and knows that the American will once again be the one to beat over the par-72 Majlis course he knows and appreciates so well.
"You know he's in form," Els said of his old rival. "And he could be off in certain aspects of his game, but he's going to be really great in other aspects. So he's going to be a factor wherever he plays," he said.
Woods was not due off until early in the afternoon playing alongside Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain and Sweden's Johan Edfors.
The American is coming off a win in the Buick Invitational in California on Sunday - his seventh straight in USPGA events and is set on honing his game toward his main early season objective, the Masters at Augusta in early April.
Among other early starters were several of Europe's victorious Ryder Cup stars.
Playing together, Robert Karlsson and Lee Westwood were both at two under through six holes with Colin Montgomerie at one-under. Playing in the group ahead of them David Howell was at one-under.