Overview
- Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood carded matching 8-under 64s to headline a five-way tie that also includes Richard Sterne, Adrien Saddier and Kazuma Kobori.
- Golfweek reported 12 players sit within one shot of the lead after the first round at Yas Links, highlighting a congested start.
- Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy opened with a 4-under 68, while closest challenger Marco Penge posted 67 to finish a stroke ahead.
- Ludvig Åberg recorded a hole-in-one at the 183-yard par-3 eighth during his round of 68.
- The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship serves as the DP World Tour’s penultimate play-off stop before the Dubai finale and carries a $9 million purse.