Dubai Desert Classic:Graeme McDowell has rediscovered his identity at last after opening with an impressive, seven-under-par 65 to share the first round lead with England's Ross Fisher in the Dubai Desert Classic.

After a year to forget in 2006, the 27-year-old Portrush man emerged from the desert in more ways than one when he carded an eagle and five birdies to top the leaderboard alongside a player who once picked up practice balls for Tiger Woods at Wentworth.

Six months ago, McDowell fired a 66 to lead the British Open at Hoylake - the last time he led an event with Woods in the field.

But while he eventually slipped back to disappointing share of 61st place behind the world number one on the links of Royal Liverpool, the revitalised Ulsterman believes he is ready to bloom again at the highest level after making a series of fundamental changes in his life.

Leading by one stroke from three-time Classic winner Ernie Els, India's Jyoti Randhawa and Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara, and by three from Woods, McDowell confessed that he was at a low ebb after his experience at the Open, but he has been helped no end by his caddie, Ken Comboy, to gain some perspective, learn from his mistakes and move on.

"I was beating myself up very badly from a schedule point of view," he said, referring to an Open appearance that marked his 13th tournament in 14 weeks. "I was not the player that I knew that I was any more on the golf course. I didn't recognise who I was any more on the golf course. I was just a different person.

"Ken helped me get a bit of perspective on what I did and the mistakes I made in my schedule and the mistakes I was making in general. He's worked with some of the best players in the world and he's certainly been a big influence on me as far as trying to get me back to where I know I can perform.

"Mentally I was not in a good place at the British Open, so there is a big difference there. I probably didn't believe in my technique very much either. I needed to clear the decks a little bit at the end of last year and took everything back to zero again."

McDowell described his new coach, Clive Tucker, as "a breath of fresh air" for his game, and, with the experienced Comboy on his bag, who helped Thomas Bjorn win the Desert Classic in 2001, he believes he is back on the right track with his career.

The real test will come over the next three days as he battles to distance himself from a chasing pack that includes the likes of Els, Woods, Henrik Stenson and Darren Clarke.

The South African set the early pace by carding a six-under-par 66, in windless conditions, that included an eagle two at the 12th, where he holed a seven-iron.

"It was a nice start," Els said. "Anything under 70 is a good start and the conditions were perfect this morning and the golf course was in unbelievable shape. I feel comfortable on the course here and I love the way they set it up. I feel excited playing here because I enjoy the course."

By contrast, McDowell's effort was compiled in swirling desert winds in the afternoon. He turned in one-under-par 34, but caught fire with a homeward 31 that featured an eagle from 25 feet at the par five 13th and four birdies.

He was joined at the top of the leaderboard by 26-year-old Englishman Fisher, who had eight birdies in his 65, and later revealed that the closest he has come to Woods was eight years ago when, as a teenager, he picked up Woods' practice balls during the World Matchplay at Wentworth, where he is now attached.

"I must have been about 18 years old and I got the job of working on the range all week, sitting at the table and giving them out the golf balls and then going to collect them in the little van once they were finished," he said.

"Once they had gone out to the course there wasn't really much to do, so I did sneak off and watch a bit of the golf and I actually saw Tiger beat Woosie (Ian Woosnam) at the first play-off hole (in the second round). You couldn't get too close, but even from a distance you could see the guy was pretty impressive."

Defending champion Woods complained that his putting was not at its best as he fired six birdies and two bogeys in a 68 in the company of Johan Edfors (72) and Miguel Angel Jimenez, who shot a 67.

"I left a lot of opportunities out there," Woods said. "I didn't putt well. But overall I feel like I had control of the ball most of the day and I've just got to get organised on the greens."

The American said on Wednesday that he plans to get even better and make life tough for rivals such as Els, who wants to be number one again.

Asked how he planned to do that, he said: "Work. Bust my butt. That's how you do it."