Tommy Fleetwood shot an eagle at the par-5 2nd and made eight birdies to sign for a bogey-free, 10-under 62 equalling the course record at Yas Links to take the lead by one shot at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
“I got off to a great start, I actually didn’t feel like I swung it perfectly early on and I felt like I swung it better as we got into the back nine,” said the Englishman.
“It was a lovely round of golf to play. Putted amazing, felt like I read the greens so well, beautiful pace control and hit a lot of perfect putts and started holing them.
“I’m just happy to have got off to a very good start.”
Fleetwood has a new putter in the bag this week and has been talking with former Ryder Cup players David Howell and Ken Brown about his game.
“I always feel like I’m a good putter – it doesn’t always show – but I’ve been working on that and I chatted to Ken and Howler on the course and we were talking about a couple of things.
“Working on how I move my head in my stroke and what happens there and it’s always nice to have a good discussion; they’re two of the best putters I’ve ever met and any time you’re talking to those guys, you’re going to pick something up.”
Denmark’s Thorbjørn Olesen made two eagles, at the par-5s 7th and 11th, as well as five birdies for a bogey-free 63 and a share of second place alongside American Johannes Veerman who eagled the 2nd but also made a bogey at the par-4 12th.
“I just putted well all the way around,” said Olesen, whose last visit to the United Arab Emirates ended with an eighth DP World Tour title.
“Obviously played pretty well as well but the putter was definitely on fire the whole day, and with the conditions of the greens, if you putted really well, you can make a lot of putts. I’m very happy with that.
“I’m excited. I like to play in the Middle East. I always enjoy coming here.”
England’s Paul Waring, Tyrrell Hatton and Laurie Canter are tied in fourth place at 8-under alongside Italy’s Francesco Laporta. Canter and Laporta both stayed bogey-free with Laporta also carding an eagle at the 7th.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy closed with a 67 and lies in T18 at 5-under in his pursuit of winning a sixth Race to Dubai title.
McIlroy is out in front in the season-long standings but there are increased points on offer this week and at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship next week. Victory would put him level with Seve Ballesteros and two behind Colin Montgomerie, who has a record eight Harry Vardon trophies.
“I know that if I have a really good week this week, it makes my job a lot easier next week,” he said.
