Andrew Redington/Getty Images

By Kent Gray
David Lipsky is loving the liberty of being unshackled from any equipment deals but not half as much as he enjoyed the freedom of the back nine on the opening morning of the 31st OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic.

Taking full advantage of the relatively benign conditions afforded by being among the first group off the 10th tee at 7.10am, the 31-year-old American raced through his opening nine holes in three-under. The world No. 198 got it to -5 by the 2nd hole, his 11th, before hanging tough as the wind whipped up, a bogey two holes later the only blemish in an impressive 68.

At -4, Lipsky will begin Friday just a stroke adrift of pacesetter Thomas Pieters and with heightened expectations of a third European Tour win after claiming his second at the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek in late 2018.

Victory in Dubai, while still a long way off, would have the big club manufacturers clambering. Not that it seems Lipsky is in any hurry to ink a deal after he “switched pretty much everything” in his bag during the off-season.

“I can just use what I like and how it performs. That really helps give me confidence, as I don’t need to try to fit into any one particular manufacturer,” said Lipsky. “I like the freedom and it’s ended up working out for me.”

So too did the early tee-time, and especially so on the Majlis’ inward nine which played significantly easier than its outward counterpart which boasted the four hardest holes and five of the top six on Thursday.

“I was fortunate. I was first off so the wind died down my first six, seven holes. Took advantage of those. But the rest of the round was a grind.

“I hit a lot of fairways and greens, and out here with the way the rough is, and how firm the greens are, you’ve got hit fairways to attack pins.”

After finishing 43rd in last season’s Race to Dubai and opening 2020 with a share of 30th in Abu Dhabi, Lipsky has unsurprising goals for the new season.

“I just want to put myself in contention more often, a little bit more consistency to my game. I worked really hard in the off-season with my swing coach and I’m seeing it pay dividends right now.”