World number ten Tommy Fleetwood produced a scintillating opening 18 holes at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
The Englishman made eight birdies and an eagle to shoot 62 and equal the course record at Yas Links, which was set by Sami Välimäki 12 months ago.
Fleetwood has struggled in Abu Dhabi since 2022 but was firmly in control of all aspects of his game on Thursday. What’s more, Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade putter was red-hot as the 33-year-old demonstrated the impressive strides he’s made with the flat stick.
HSBC Championship: Tommy Fleetwood drops verdict on first-round 62
Speaking during his post-round press conference, Fleetwood was initially surprised to find out he’d only matched the course record.
“Only equalling course record? Who else has shot 10-under,” Fleetwood said. “Yeah, I got off to a great start. I think I actually didn’t feel like I swung it perfectly early on, and I actually felt like I started playing better as the round got to the back nine. I felt like I swung it really nicely on the back nine.”
The seven-time DP World Tour winner was quick to laud his improvement on the greens. “Putted amazing, he added. “Felt like I read the greens so well. Beautiful pace control and hit a lot of good putts and started holing them. I worked even all the way through to the last hole; I just hit perfect putts.
“When you shoot a 62, obviously everything is going to have gone very, very well. Just happy to have got off to a great start.”
Low-scoring day at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
Fleetwood wasn’t the only one who enjoyed the favourable conditions at Yas Links. Only seven players were over par after day one, and three-under-par is currently tied for 35th.
Other notable names at the top of the leaderboard include Tyrrell Hatton and Robert MacIntyre. LIV star Hatton is eight under after his opening round. The 33-year-old carded ten birdies and dropped two shots during his first 18.
| 2024 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship leaderboard | ||||
| Position | Player | R1 | Hole | Total |
| 1 | T. Fleetwood | -10 | F [F] | -10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T2 | T. Olesen | -9 | F [F] | -9 |
| T2 | J. Veerman | -9 | F [F] | -9 |
| T4 | T. Hatton | -8 | F [F] | -8 |
| T4 | P. Waring | -8 | F [F] | -8 |
MacIntyre is currently six under, one ahead of Joaquin Niemann, who is in action for the first time since the LIV Team Championship.
Rory McIlroy, who is targeting a sixth Race to Dubai crown, is five under after his opening round at Yas Links. The Northern Irishman currently leads the order of merit standings and is on course to match Seve Ballesteros’ record next week at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
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