GOLF:IN A way, first blood in this desert duel went to Martin Kaymer yesterday as he outscored Graeme McDowell by five strokes.

Yet, as the German emerged from the recorder’s hut after signing for a 67 to the Irishman’s 72, a timely reminder that you don’t always get what you’re looking for came from the après golf musicians in the tented village. Pride, one of the anthems of super group U2, was delivered perfectly on cue to indicate there would be no raising of the white flag from the US Open champion to the US PGA champion.

This race ain’t run just yet!

For sure, the prestige of this Dubai World Championship title in its own right is important. On that front, Robert Karlsson – who opened with a 65, to be one shot clear of Korea’s Seung-Yul Noh – stole a march on the elite field.

But, in the mano-a-mano context of the quest between the two Major champions to top the European Tour’s Order of Merit, McDowell was again pitched into the role of pursuer.

On a day of sunshine which gave near-perfect conditions for the opening round of the season’s finale, McDowell – despite suffering a horrendous run around the turn where he three-putted three times in four holes – was adamant his cause wasn’t a lost one.

“What am I – seven back? I’ve been five or six shots behind the lead many times on a Thursday evening and not been massively disappointed . . . I hope Martin has seen enough of my game to know that I’ll be back.”

Seven shots behind Karlsson and five behind Kaymer, McDowell has his hands full.

“We have 54 holes left and a lot of golf left this weekend. I have to do better, simple as that. It’s in there and there’s certainly no panic yet. I’m thinking of this as the season finale and a week where I want to play well and a week where I want to show everyone why I’ve had the season that I’ve had. I’m here to do a job and I haven’t shot myself in the foot just yet,” he said.

From walking on to the first tee with the intention to stare his opponent in the eye, McDowell was actually put on the back foot with Kaymer’s start which saw him follow up a birdie on the par five second with an eagle two on the par four third, where he holed out with a 192-yard seven-iron shot.

Instead of staring him in the eye, McDowell found himself high-fiving Kaymer. Not part of the plan, it must be said.

Indeed, the Ulsterman found himself trailing Kaymer by seven shots as he walked off the 12th green after suffering his third three-putt in a four-hole stretch.

“I am thinking to myself, ‘what is going on here?’ I can’t remember the last time I’ve three-whacked three times in four holes,” said McDowell, who at least recovered on the home run with birdies on the 13th and 15th to close the gap.

Of Kaymer’s ability to stay calm and focused, McDowell observed: “He would be a hell of a poker player. He’s a pretty emotionless guy, a cool customer who shows no signs of nerves.”

Kaymer, in fact, played as he has done for much of the season: in complete control of his game. But he had to delve into the memory banks to recall the last time he’d holed out with an iron, dating back to his formative years on the Challenge Tour.

“It’s the right week to get lucky,” he said of the seven-iron approach which he initially thought too high and short but which pitched five feet short of the hole and rolled in,

However, he refused to count any chickens before they hatched and didn’t doubt McDowell’s ability to fight back.

“He’s one of the best players in the world . . . it’s not over!”

Still, McDowell, for his part, was glad the pair would be separated for the second round.

“It frustrated me a little bit playing with him because he was playing so well. He made me feel like I was shooting 80. It’s great to get away from him to focus on my job and get away from the distraction,” he said.

Karlsson, too, benefited from holing out with an approach shot. It came on the par five 14th where he laid up rather than attempt to reach the green in two and then hit a wedge from 114 yards and watched as the ball took one bounce and rolled into the cup for an eagle. In a round of an eagle, eight birdies and three bogeys – the last of which came on the 18th where he was in trouble left off the tee – Karlsson upstaged the two Major duellists.