Tiger Woods made a flawless start to his bid for a second Dubai Desert Classic title this morning after the world number one carded a bogey-free seven-under-par 65 to open up a two-stroke lead over Sweden's Pelle Edberg, Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez and France's Thomas Levet.

Woods showed no ill-effects of his Tuesday morning arrival in Dubai after claiming a record sixth Buick Invitational on Sunday and signed for seven birdies in a round which he admitted included just one bad shot at the 13th.

Sergio Garcia, the world number 12, heads a large contingent containing Ireland's Damien McGrane and Ashford-born Benn Barham a further shot off the pace.

"I played well today, I hit a bunch of good shots. The only bad shot I really hit today was at the par-five 13th, other than that, I really hit the ball well," Woods said.

Playing partners Colin Montgomerie and Niclas Fasth holed their birdies at the 10th after starting on the back nine with six-foot birdie putts.

But Woods stamped his authority from the off as he chipped to within an inch from the greenside rough after taking on the pin at the 549-yard par five with his second shot.

Woods overcame the disappointment of playing his solitary bad shot at the 13th with an eight-foot birdie putt a hole later before reaching the turn three under par after two-putting the par-five 18th from 35 feet.

He was quickly four under with a 20-foot birdie putt at the first before another quickly followed three holes later after hitting his seven-iron tee shot into the par three to two feet.

Eight-foot putts at the par-three seventh and par-three eighth accounted for Woods' remaining birdies to put the American in a strong position to repeat his 2006 victory at the Emirates Golf Club.

Jimenez, the Hong Kong Open champion, made his move up the leaderboard after picking up four shots over his last fives holes, highlighted by a hole-in-one at the seventh, his 16th.

After judging the 170-yard six iron to perfection to grab his second ace at the Emirates Golf Club following his eagle one at the fourth in 1990.

Barham, whose current best finish on the European Tour is a fourth place at the Scottish PGA Championship at Gleneagles in 2000, was delighted with his bogey-free opening round 68 and is reaping the benefit of some words of wisdom from his caddie.