Els, the Desert Classic’s only three-time champion, mixed seven birdies and three bogeys in an opening 68 that left him three strokes off Matthew Fitzpatrick’s overnight pace and dreaming of a fourth Dallah to go with his wins here in 1994, 2002 and 2005.

Meanwhile, two-time champion Gallacher matched the Big Easy’s four-under start to lay the foundations for a tilt at his first European Tour title since becoming the only player to successful defend the Dallah in 2014.

“I’ll take four-under. I played good today. I drove the ball a bit better. I struggled last week and in practice here but I hit it lovely today,” said Gallacher who missed the cut in Abu Dhabi last week.

“I wish I knew,” he said when asked the secret to his Majlis love affair. “I think every time I come back here I’ve got great memories. I play the course when I’m out here on holiday and it’s a home from home, really.

“I know the course really well. I’ve played it in every wind. I’ve played it in every scenario. When you have a catalogue of good shots, I think you have a wee spring in your step.”

Another player with a feel-good story is Callum Shinkwin. Indeed, the 25-year-old Englishman is on the front page of the actual leaderboard after a 66 left him in an eight-way tie for second, a shot shy of Fitzpatrick.

Shinkwin has teed it up in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai courtesy of winning qualifying tournaments of 54 and 36 holes at Yas Links and Dubai Hills G.C. respectively. He kicked on to a T-54 place at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and now has a good shot at making the weekend in Dubai for the first time at his third attempt.

“Personally I think I’ve found the equipment that works, the contract, for me,” the 2013 English Amateur Champion said. “That’s been the trouble the last two years mainly, as well as I’ve got a few things going last year which are obviously just personal. But yeah, the game feels great. It’s felt great for the last two or three months, and now I’m finally showing what I can do.”

Els’ nephew, the reigning British Amateur champion Jovan Rebula, opened his maiden Desert Classic with a one-over 73. Rebula’s amateur competition, Rayhan Thomas, is a shot further back. The Dubai-based Indian world amateur No.17 got it to one-under with a birdie on 18 (his 9th) but bogeyed the 2nd and doubled the 6th to sign for a 74, leaving him with much work to do to make his second Majlis cut in three years.