Fleetwood and Lowry among five tied for lead after opening Abu Dhabi Championship

5 hours ago7 min read3 comments

The opening round of the Abu Dhabi Championship erupted into a thrilling five-way tie at the top, a leaderboard so congested it felt like a rush-hour metro, with former champions Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry immediately stamping their authority with commanding 8-under 64s. Fleetwood, a man for whom this desert layout is a second home after his back-to-back triumphs in 2017 and 2018, was a model of surgical precision, dissecting the course with eight birdies in a spotless, bogey-free display that echoed the consistent brilliance of a seasoned veteran like, say, Xavi controlling the midfield—every move calculated, every pass purposeful.Not to be outdone, the 2019 champion Lowry brought a touch of fiery, attacking flair to the proceedings, racking up an impressive nine birdies that were only slightly marred by a single bogey, a performance reminiscent of a classic number nine who might miss a sitter but then scores an overhead kick moments later. They are joined by a fascinating trio of contenders: Frenchman Adrien Saddier, who threatened to run away with the solo lead after a blistering run of nine birdies through 16 holes before a frustrating dropped shot on the 17th halted his momentum; New Zealand's rising talent Kazuma Kobori, who delivered a flawless first-round effort featuring an eagle and six birdies, announcing his presence on the big stage with the quiet confidence of a young prodigy; and the seasoned South African Richard Sterne, the only man in the field who also battled here in the inaugural 2006 event, whose round was a wild rollercoaster of two eagles and two bogeys, a volatile scorecard that speaks to a player willing to take high-risk, high-reward shots.Lurking just one shot back in a pack of seven players at 7-under 65 are serious threats like Alex Noren, the Højgaard twins' representative Nicolai, and Keita Nakajima, ensuring that the weekend will be a brutal test of nerve and skill. The day's most spectacular moment belonged to Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, who authored a stunning hole-in-one on the par-three eighth, his tee shot landing a mere couple of feet from the pin before dramatically disappearing, a shot of pure genius that, sadly, wasn't enough to propel him up the board as he finished four shots off the pace alongside his Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy, who will undoubtedly be looking to mount a characteristic charge. This opening salvo sets the stage for a weekend that is less a gentle stroll and more a high-stakes chess match played with titanium clubs, where every putt dropped feels like a last-minute winner and every missed fairway carries the weight of a season-defining error.

#hottest news

#Abu Dhabi Championship

#Tommy Fleetwood

#Shane Lowry

#golf

#leaderboard

#first round

Stay Informed. Act Smarter.

Get weekly highlights, major headlines, and expert insights — then put your knowledge to work in our live prediction markets.