EDDIE Pepperell has a big day tomorrow after shooting a two-over par opening round at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

The 30-year-old, from Abingdon, slipped down the leaderboard with two late bogeys to leave his chances of making the cut hanging on a knife-edge.

Playing alongside South African Wilco Nienaber and Spanish golfer Jorge Campillo today, the Frilford Heath member began with a dropped shot at the first.

He recovered to claim birdies at the third and sixth, only to bogey consecutive holes to reach the turn one-over.

Pepperell picked up another shot at the tenth to return to level-par and he put together a consistent run on the back nine.

But bogeys at the 15th and 16th saw the world No 140 drop down the leaderboard and he is tied 89th heading into his second round at Emirates GC.

He starts from the tenth tomorrow, at the earlier time of 8.30am GMT.

After showing decent form at the end of last year, Pepperell will be keen to avoid early exits in his first two tournaments of 2021.