By Kent Gray
The 32nd ‘Major of the Middle East’ is off to a sizzling start.

South African Richard Sterne leads after nine birdies in a brilliant 64, by a shot from American Kurt Kitayama. Plenty of big names lurk.

Get up to speed with all the first round reaction in our bumper 20-page OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic magazine, again produced by the Golf Digest Middle East team, here.

Scroll through the ISSUU link below and/or download Friday’s ODDC ‘Daily News’ to your favourite device to read offline and keep for prosperity.

This was a historic OMEGA Dubai Dubai Classic after all, the 30th edition held on the Majlis (after two editions at sister-club Dubai Creek in 1999 and 2000) as the UAE celebrates its Golden Jubilee.