DUBAI, Nov 22 (Reuters) – World number two Luke Donald made a flying start in his bid to record back-to-back victories by snatching the first-round lead at the DP World Tour Championship on Thursday.

Donald fired a seven-under 65 to move one stroke ahead of top-ranked Rory McIlroy, Briton Marc Warren and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain at the European Tour’s season-ending tournament.

DUBAI (Reuters) – Padraig Harrington was performing metaphorical handstands after shooting a five-under-par 67 at the DP World Tour Championship on Thursday despite frittering away a host of birdie chances in the opening round.

The triple major winner found the Greg Norman-designed Earth layout a fearsome opponent in practice earlier this week and he was delighted to tame the course once the action started for real.

By Tony Jimenez

(Reuters) – European champions Chelsea would have been better served putting former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp in charge rather than Rafael Benitez, according to former Stamford Bridge great Alan Hudson.

Spaniard Benitez, 52, was appointed as interim manager on Wednesday following the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo six months after the Italian led the London club to their first Champions League title.

Nov 22 (Reuters) – European champions Chelsea would have been better served putting former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp in charge rather than Rafael Benitez, according to former Stamford Bridge great Alan Hudson.

Spaniard Benitez, 52, was appointed as interim manager on Wednesday following the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo six months after the Italian led the London club to their first Champions League title.

DUBAI (Reuters) – Shane Lowry has been so badly affected by a virus he can barely stand up, the Irishman said after pulling out of the European circuit’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship ahead of Thursday’s opening round.

The winner of last month’s Portugal Masters was taken to a Dubai hospital earlier this week after experiencing severe headaches and vomiting.

DUBAI (Reuters) – South African Branden Grace is still pinching himself after winning four times this year, the best record by a graduate of the Qualifying School in the history of the European Tour.

Grace grabbed the 11th card at Qualifying School but has done little scrambling since as he reeled off victories at the Joburg Open, Volvo Golf Champions in South Africa, China Open and the Dunhill Links in Scotland.

DUBAI (Reuters) – Paul Lawrie believes his second-place finish in last year’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai was the springboard for his return to the Ryder Cup stage after a 13-year absence.

The veteran Scot, winner of the British Open at Carnoustie in 1999, was in the doldrums for several years until he got a confidence boost from winning the Andalucian Open last year.

DUBAI (Reuters) – Rory McIlroy is now so good he should be aiming to win at least one major championship every year, according to Europe’s Ryder Cup talisman Ian Poulter.

The Northern Irishman, 23, already has two majors to his name and cemented his status as world number one this season by becoming the second player to win the money-lists on both sides of the Atlantic, after Luke Donald achieved the feat in 2011.

By Tony Jimenez

(Reuters) – Chelsea’s madcap managerial merry-go-round spun for the umpteenth time on Wednesday when Roberto Di Matteo, who guided the club to Champions League glory just six months ago, was sacked.

Winning Europe’s elite club competition had been a burning desire for Roman Abramovich since the Russian billionaire took over as the owner at Stamford Bridge in 2003.

Nov 21 (Reuters) – Chelsea’s madcap managerial merry-go-round spun for the umpteenth time on Wednesday when Roberto Di Matteo, who guided the club to Champions League glory just six months ago, was sacked.

Winning Europe’s elite club competition had been a burning desire for Roman Abramovich since the Russian billionaire took over as the owner at Stamford Bridge in 2003.