Tommy Fleetwood tied the course record with a 10-under-par 62 to take a one-shot lead at the Abu Dhabi Championship while Rory McIlroy got off to a strong start on Thursday as he bids to seal another World Cup title. Race to Dubai.
Englishman Fleetwood got off to a good start at Yas Links with birdies at the first and third holes either side of an eagle, and maintained his form throughout the round to finish ahead of Dane Thorbjorn Olesen and American Johannes Veerman.
Fleetwood took another shot at the seventh before making four birdies in five holes after the turn, closing with his eighth birdie of the day at the last as he went up and down the bunker.
“I got off to a good start, actually, I didn’t feel like I was swinging it perfectly at first and I felt like I was swinging it better when we got into the back nine,” said Fleetwood said.
“It was a great round of golf to play. Amazing putts, I felt like I read the greens so well, nice pace control and I made a lot of perfect putts and started to make them succeed.
“I’m just happy I got off to a really good start.”
Olesen also produced a bogey-free round that included eagles on the par-5 seventh and 11th holes, and a 43-foot putt for birdie at the 13th.
The Dane came out on top on his latest visit to the UAE earlier this year, winning the Ras Al Khaimah Championship for his eighth and most recent European Tour title.
Veerman matched Olesen at 63-under, his only blemish coming when he bogeyed the 12th after needing three putts.
Tyrrell Hatton is among four players another shot behind, while McIlroy is five shots off the pace as he targets a sixth Order of Merit title.
A victory in Abu Dhabi would allow McIlroy to match the feat of legendary Spaniard Seve Ballesteros, ahead of next week’s Tour Championship.
Only Scot Colin Montgomerie (eight) has won more than Ballesteros.
McIlroy currently leads the Race to Dubai standings, more than 1,500 points ahead of second-placed South African Thriston Lawrence.
“I know if I have a really good week this week, it will make my job a lot easier next week,” McIlroy said.
mw/hp