Ryder Cup team-mates Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry are in a share of the lead after the primary spherical of the Abu Dhabi Championship.
England’s Fleetwood and Irishman Lowry, who helped Europe beat the USA at Bethpage in September, each carded an eight-under 64 at Yas Hyperlinks.
Adrien Saddier, Richard Sterne and Kazuma Kobori full the 5 leaders after day one of many DP World Tour’s penultimate match of the 12 months – with a subject of 70 whittled right down to 50 for subsequent week’s DP World Tour Championship finale.
Sterne made a flying begin because the South African was seven beneath after the entrance 9, earlier than touchdown a 75-foot putt on the 18th to say his second eagle of the day and take the clubhouse lead.
Two-time winner Fleetwood then completed with eight birdies in a spotless spherical whereas 2019 champion Lowry had 9 birdies and a single bogey.
Rasmus Hojgaard additionally performed with the Ryder Cup duo and Lowry mentioned: “I used to be fairly excited once I noticed the group, my pairing at present. It was good to go on the market with the boys.
“I used to be paired with [Fleetwood] in India the primary two days and I shot 64 as effectively, so yeah, one thing about me and Tommy. I identical to enjoying with him, a pal and a extremely good participant too. You form of feed off one another.”
England’s Marco Penge has emerged because the closest challenger to chief Rory McIlroy within the Race to Dubai.
The 27-year-old performed with McIlroy for the primary time on Thursday and is amongst seven gamers who’re three pictures off the lead, with McIlroy a shot additional again.
Penge, who has claimed three Tour wins since beginning the 12 months with a three-month ban for breaching betting rules, had three bogeys as he went spherical 5 beneath, whereas McIlroy parred his remaining seven holes to complete with one bogey in his spherical of 68.
