(MENAFN- The Peninsula) World No.4 Henrik Stenson shot a clinical, bogey-free round of 64 to lead the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on day one at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
The Swede put on a faultless performance in his first competitive round of 2017, taking advantage of the favourable morning conditions in the Capital.
Germany's Martin Kaymer, a three-time winner in Abu Dhabi, heads the chasing pack on 6-under, joined by Brits Oliver Fisher and Marc Warren, and Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
Reigning Open Champion Stenson, just a Falcon Trophy away from completing the ‘Desert Swing' sweep of all Middle Eastern titles, was understandably happy to kick-start his season after the winter break.
'Must be the lack of practice that does it, joked the 40-year-old after his round. '(I'm) delighted with that score. I think I scored a bit better than what I played, but I kept it under control somewhat and hit a couple of close iron shots and made the putts.
Like his Ryder Cup team-mate, Kaymer was similarly pleased to hit the ground running in the event he last won in 2011.
After his round, Kaymer visited Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC) at the ADSC Pavilion to discuss the season's prospects, the growth of the game in the UAE and the stunning success the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship has achieved in its 12 years so far.
Meanwhile, World No. 3 Dustin Johnson, grouped with Stenson and Danny Willett for the first two days, got off to an understated start on his maiden Middle East appearance, matching compatriot and defending Champion Rickie Fowler's level-par 72 on The National Course.
Two of the tour's top young talents, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Tyrrell Hatton, both enjoyed positive starts to their season with respective rounds of 69 and 67. 22-year-old Fitzpatrick came inches from a hole-in-one on the par-3 7th, but his precise tee shot skirted around the hole to deny the Brit and watching galleries the first ace of the Championship. Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello also put himself into the mix early on, closing out his day with two birdies in his last three holes for a 5-under 67.
The 17-year-old UAE-based player Rayhan Thomas, one of two amateurs in the field, posted a solid level-par round in the biggest start of his career to date, to put the young Indian in with a promising chance of making the weekend's action.
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