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Perez, 28, sank six birdies, offset by a bogey
on the par-three fourth at the Jumeirah Golf estates' Earth
Course, to lead England's Matthew Fitzpatrick, South African
Erik Van Rooyen and Scotland's Robert MacIntyre who were tied
for second.
A closely-contested first round saw Perez use a fairway wood to
birdie the 14th from off the green before taking the lead at the
17th when he drained a long birdie putt from the edge of the
green.
"As always on these tough courses, tough pins today, they really
put up a good setup with some of the pins," Perez said.
"It was just about holing a few good putts, driving the ball
well, doing everything fairly well but obviously making a few
putts.
"In the position I'm in, I have nothing to lose. I have
everything to gain. So for me it's really a going-for-it
mentality that I have to keep for four rounds... It's a matter
of making a lot of birdies."
Four golfers -- Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton,
Germany's Martin Kaymer and Finalnd's Sami Valimaki -- were tied
for fifth a shot further back.
Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion who is looking to become
the first American to win the European Tour's Race to Dubai
title, is three shots behind Perez.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)
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