Rookie pro sensation Jarrod Lyle upstaged his more fancied rivals to grab a one stroke lead midway through the opening round of the rich Dubai Desert Classic.

The 23-year-old Shepparton golfer, who went so close to winning last month's Heineken Classic in Melbourne, carded a four-under-par 68 on the Emirates course.

Lyle dropped just one stroke in his first ever golf appearance in the United Arab Emirates to finish near lunch and a stroke clear of three players including former Dubai champion, Thomas Bjorn of Denmark.

Greg Norman, competing in the tournament for the first time since 1997 when he lost in a play off to Melbourne's Richard Green, carded a disappointing two-over-par 74.

Lyle was in Christchurch last week and competing in the co-sanctioned NZ PGA Championship when informed he had been afforded a sponsor's invite from Emirates Airline to compete in Dubai.

Last year's Australian Amateur runner-up was expecting to compete in Thailand in an Asian Tour event but immediately withdrew to accept the Emirates Airlines invite.

Lyle and his caddying father, John, had just three hours in Melbourne last Monday night after finishing tied 22nd in the New Zealand PGA to connect with the Dubai-bound flight.

"It's just great that I can return something to Emirates Airline for the generosity of a sponsor's invite," said Lyle.

"They're been just fantastic flying dad and myself up here to Dubai and were staying at the Jebel Ali Resort in the biggest hotel room I've ever seen."

Lyle burst onto the international stage in brilliant manner last month in Melbourne's Heineken Classic and in only his fifth event since turning professional late last year.

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