(Photo credit: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK)

University of North Carolina senior David Ford made the most of his first trip outside the United States.

The No. 6-ranked amateur in the world shares the lead at 7-under in the Dubai Desert Classic following a memorable first round highlighted by a 40-foot eagle putt and a run of five consecutive birdies at Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club.

"It was great," said Ford, 22, a Georgia native. "I got a couple putts to fall that I didn't know were going to go in, hit a lot of good iron shots. I love where the pins were set up today. I felt like a lot of them fit my eye."

A triplet whose brother Maxwell is also on the Tar Heels golf team, Ford earned the No. 1 ranking in PGA Tour U, posting consecutive wins to end the college season to earn the exemption into the event. He shares the lead with Ricardo Gouveia of Portugal and David Micheluzzi of Australia.

"I try to keep my expectations low. I know where my game is at right now and I have got a lot of people around me believing in me which is really helpful going into this week. I just tried to have fun," Ford said.

A sweet-swinging southpaw who played in three PGA Tour events before his first international start this week, Ford is hoping for a breakout performance with shades of Nick Dunlap, who won The American Express as an amateur in 2024.

For now, Ford said he has no plans to turn pro despite dazzling with his irons and limiting the length on putts to usher in the birdie barrage. His only misstep was a bogey on the par-3 15th, which was less costly after he opened on the 10th with an eagle.

"The plan right now is to turn pro in May after the National Championship," he said. "Things could change. But yeah, right now, from the outside looking in, I think just planning to turn pro in May. Until then, just play a lot of golf, hang out with the team, and have a lot of fun."

Defending champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland shot 2-under 70 thanks to playing his final 10 holes at 3-under.

"First competitive round of the year. First competitive round in a while. A little uncomfortable over some shots. Definitely not as comfortable as I was in practice and coming in here," McIlroy said. "But it's nice to get a card in your hand. It sort of exposes the things that you need to work on. I got it around today. I got it around and got it in in a couple under, which is nice, and didn't put myself out of the tournament, which is the main thing."

Among other notables, Jon Rahm of Spain and Akshay Bhatia are part of a three-way tie for 18th at 3-under. Rahm, the LIV Golf individual champion in 2024, said the conditions made anything under par worth celebrating.

"First round in quite a while," Rahm said. "A golf course that I haven't been to before. It's quite a test once the wind gets going on those first 10 to 12 holes, wasn't easy. To finish with a round like that, I'm very happy."

--Field Level Media