Forsyth feels the heat as Els warms up for the chase

For one day, at least, it was a pleasant feeling to outscore Ernie Els. But Alastair Forsyth was not getting carried away. The Scot, who describes himself as coming more from the quietly confident end of the spectrum rather than the loudly arrogant one, is not the kind to overheat.

"Anybody would be daft to say it doesn't matter who is behind you," said Forsyth. "Obviously, if Ernie Els is sitting in second place it's a different ball game, especially the way he has been playing."

Els played as serenely as ever in the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic yesterday. While Forsyth's 65, seven under par, topped the leaderboard at the Emirates, Els was only a stroke behind. The South African has been averaging five under par for each round this year so he was a stroke better than usual. Darren Clarke was right: look at how he walks. Not rushing, but not ambling; purposeful, but relaxed; assured, perfectly paced, a man at peace with himself and his world. The man is his walk.

Tempo is infectious. The gallery following along the fairways outside the ropes enjoyed the stroll in the morning sunshine, without the air of frenzy that would have accompanied a certain Tiger Woods had he been here.

Els birdied three of his first four holes, made five before the turn and, though he added just one more coming home, he did not drop a stroke. He might have done. A rare misjudgement of club at the sixth meant he was in a bunker after his second shot, a seven-iron played from 181 yards. He was three inches away after his third. At the next, the Open champion two-putted from 60 feet and, at the eighth, having missed the fairway and played a low five-iron from the sandy scrub on the right, he chipped dead from the back of the green.

Clarke, playing alongside Els, lost little in comparison from tee to green, while Arjun Atwal, the Indian who won in Malaysia two weeks ago, looked a league adrift.

But what Clarke would have given to absorb some of the world No 2's finesse on the greens. At the sixth he put his approach to five feet, but before he could putt he had to watch Els play his miraculous escape. The Irishman could not refrain from offering comment. "It looked like it was going to go in. He was giving me some lip," explained Els. Clarke then pushed his birdie attempt three feet past. He ended with a 70.

Padraig Harrington, playing later in the day, was again troubled by a niggle in the neck and shoulders as he scored a 73.

Forsyth, who won the Malaysian Open last year and was due a low round this season, has not yet withdrawn from the Qatar Masters next week, but intends to do so. "For the sake of one tournament it is probably not worth the risk," he said, referring to the threat of war overshadowing the Gulf state.

Greg Owen, who was among those on five under, was looking for a lead from the European Tour. "If they say it is safe, then fair enough," he said.

Ken Schofield, the executive director of the European Tour, was in Doha yesterday and said just that: "All preparations, including the golf course, accommodation and transportation, are complete and secure," read his communiqué. "Additional contingencies are in place, should eventualities require."

Being stuck there would rob Nick Dougherty of a chance to play in Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Invitational the following week. But last year's rookie of the year is determined to return to Qatar, where he was runner-up to Adam Scott in 2002. "I really don't think the Tour would endanger their players," he said. "Next week might be the week I get my first win, but if I pull out I'll never know."

Dougherty, who also scored a 67 yesterday, was told by his father to get a haircut recently, so spent £75 on red and blond highlights. He is from Chorley and supports the red team in Manchester.

After playing in the first six events of the season, Dougherty stayed in Australia for a two-week holiday. "It was great chilling out on Bondi," he said. Much to his friends' dismay he insisted on being home each night in time to watch last week's World Matchplay. The golf from America comes on the telly in Oz around 6am.

DESERT CLASSIC (Dubai) Leading first round scores (GB or Irl unless stated): 65 A Forsyth. 66 E Els (SA). 67 S Struver (Ger), G Owen, N Dougherty, J Donaldson, M Ilonen (Fin), R-J Derksen (Neth). 68 P Sjoland (Swe), B Davis, M O'Meara (US), F Andersson (Swe), R Wessels (SA), I Poulter, M A Jimenez (Sp), D Lynn, K Na (S Kor). Selected: 69 I Woosnam. 70 R Ballesteros (Sp), D Clarke, P Lawrie, L Westwood.