under 65 Thursday for a one-shot lead after the first round of the Dubai World Championship, while Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy kept up their battle for the European Tour money title. Allenby, a 38-year-old Australian who plays mainly on the US PGA tour, had eight birdies and only one bogey on the Earth Course, which is hosting the $7.5 million final event of the European Tour season. Allenby was one shot ahead of England's Westwood, Chris Woods and Colombian Camilo Villegas, who all shot 6-under 66s. When the tournament ends Sunday, the top player on the European Tour's money list will win a $1.5 million bonus from the new Race to Dubai. Westwood, lying second in the race, was two shots ahead of money leader McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who shot a 68. Westwood produced three birdies in the final four holes to boost his chances of overtaking McIlroy's $191,000 lead in the money race. The two other players in contention for the money title were further off the pace. Germany's Martin Kaymer shot a 71, and England's Ross Fisher had a 73. It was only last weekend that Allenby, resting at his home in Florida, decided to travel to Dubai with a new set of clubs in his bag. He adjusted quickly to their feel on the desert course, designed by fellow Australian Greg Norman. Allenby, who has missed only one cut in European Tour events in 10 years, approached his club suppliers Srixon for a new set of irons, to comply with new rules on clubhead grooves which come into force on Jan. 1. Gleeson takes lead In Siem Reap, Cambodia, Australia's David Gleeson broke away from a bunched leaderboard to take the first round lead at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open Thursday. Gleeson, a two-time Asian Tour winner, shot a five-under-par 67, including a birdie at the 18th hole, to lead by one shot in the 300,000 dollar event. Filipino Artemio Murakami, Taiwan's Lin Wen-hong, Malaysian Khor Kheng Hwai and Thai trio Pariya Junhasavasdikul, Annop Tangkamolprasert and Atthaphon Prathummanee share second place on 68s at the Phokeethra Country Club. India's Shiv Kapur shot a 70, which included an eagle and three other birdies. Shin, Ochoa vie for honor Jiyai Shin and Lorena Ochoa will take their duel for LPGA Player of the Year honors down to the wire this week at the LPGA Tour Championship. South Korea's Shin is trying to become the first player since LPGA legend Nancy Lopez in 1978 to win both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year. If she can pull it off, she'll end world number one Ochoa's three-year reign. Shin, 21, won three times last year before joining the LPGA Tour, including the Women's British Open.
