LEE Westwood's putter blew cold yesterday as he struggled in the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic.

The Worksop world No.3 shot 69, six behind Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello, who is nine under par on the Emirates course.

Cabrera-Bello leads by two from Scotland's Scott Jamieson and German Marcel Siem after a dazzling 63, yet all three will be fully aware of the quality of those chasing them.

Starting his round on the back nine, Westwood got off the mark at the 13th after three opening pars, and back-to-back birdies at 17 and 18 saw the Notts man reach the turn in 34.

However, his short game left much to be desired as he saw a series of opportunities pass him by.

Westwood had an eagle opportunity on the third, but three-putted for par.

He then bogeyed the 188-yard par-three fourth after leaving a chip short of the green, but he atoned immediately, hitting his approach within three feet of the flag for a birdie at the fifth to sign for a 69.

Westwood's clubmate, Mark Foster, struggled and has started with a three-over-par 75.

Rory McIlroy is firmly in the hunt with an opening-round 66.

Narrowly missing out on a hole-in-one at the 15th, McIlroy putted for a sixth birdie in seven holes, before finishing with a flourish, a birdie at the last to sign for a 66, level with world No. 4 Martin Kaymer, who moved to six-under after an eagle at the 18th.

The two major winners are in a tie for fourth with 2001 champion Thomas Bjorn, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, South African Richard Sterne and French pair Gregory Bourdy and Romain Wattel.

Robert Rock, back in action two weeks after he beat Tiger Woods and the world's top four in Abu Dhabi, will need to improve on his opening 73 if he is to make the cut.

Cabrera-Bello equalled the European Tour record by finishing the 2009 Austrian Open with a round of 60, but the circuit's first-ever 59 looked a distinct possibility when he packed nine birdies into his first 11 holes.

The 27-year-old Canary Islander needed four more birdies for the magic mark, but had to settle for seven pars.