Robert Allenby decided that he was going to skip the Australian Triple Crown.  His stated reason was wear and tear from global gallvanting in recent weeks.  His unstated reason was that Australian golf fans are happy to mock him at every opportunity.

Well, so far, the strategy has paid off in the Dubai World Championship.  Allenby leads after a first round 65. 

Lee Westwood - trailing Rory McIlroy by some $191,000 in the Race to Dubai money list - is a shot back of Allenby.  McIlroy is two shots back of Westwood.

Chris Wood and Camilo Villegas are tied with Westwood for second.

It would probably be bad PR for the Euro Tour to have Rory McIlroy win the Race to Dubai only to commit slightly less time to the tour next year to play in the States more often.  So, for the Euro Tour's sake, I'm rooting for Westwood.