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Rory McIlroy (file photo). Ben Brady/INPHO

McIlroy five off leader Fleetwood after first round in Abu Dhabi

Fleetwood leads by a shot after his round of 62.

RORY MCILROY IS five shots off first round leader Tommy Fleetwood after the opening round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Fleetwood carded a course record-equalling 62 to take a one-shot lead. He wielded a new putter to great effect as he made an eagle and eight birdies on a day of low scoring which saw 63 of the 70-man field break par at Yas Links.

Denmarkโ€™s Thorbjorn Olesen and American Johannes Veerman were Fleetwoodโ€™s nearest challengers on nine under par, with the English trio of Paul Waring, Laurie Canter and Tyrrell Hatton all shooting eight under. Scotlandโ€™s Robert MacIntyre was another stroke back following a 64,

McIlroy is in a tie for 18th after his round of five-under 67, with Tom McKibbin in a tie for 28th after a four-under 68, and Shane Lowry a short further back after his three-under 69, leaving him in a tie for 35th.

McIlroyโ€™s round featured six birdies, while his only bogey arrived on the par-three 17th. McKibbin only dropped one shot in his round, on the 10th, but rebounded with birdies on 11, 14 and 16 to finish strongly. Lowryโ€™s round contained three birdies on 9, 11 and 15  โ€“ and 15 pars.

McIlroy leads Thriston Lawrence by 1,572.39 points on the Race to Dubai, with Rasmus Hojgaard a further 347.89 points adrift, meaning a win or runners-up finish would seal a sixth money list title ahead of next weekโ€™s season-ending event in Dubai.

The leading trio have been placed in the same group for the first two rounds and while Lawrence matched McIlroyโ€™s score, Hojgaard went one better with a 66.

โ€œHonestly itโ€™s nice to be paired with Thriston and Rasmus because you can sort of keep an eye on what they are doing,โ€ McIlroy said.

โ€œItโ€™s been a really good year, very, very consistent. Started well with the win in Dubai and Iโ€™ve let a couple slip away as well. But Iโ€™ve had a great deal of consistency, and thatโ€™s the reason that I find myself in the place that I am.

โ€œAnd I wanted to come here to the Middle East these two weeks and finish the season off the way I felt it deserves to be finished off.โ€

Fleetwood, who won this event in 2017 and 2018 at a different venue, was four under par for his first three holes and followed a birdie at the seventh with five more on the back nine.

โ€œI got off to a great start (but) I didnโ€™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,โ€ Fleetwood, who received some putting tips from former players Ken Brown and David Howell during a practice round, said.

tommy-fleetwood Tommy Fleetwood (file photo). James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

โ€œPutted amazing. Felt like I read the greens so well. Beautiful pace control and hit a lot of good putts and started holing them.

โ€œWhen you shoot a 62, obviously everything is going to have gone very, very well. Just happy to have got off to a great start.

โ€œI always feel like Iโ€™m a good putter. It doesnโ€™t always show. But definitely sort of the second half of this year, I havenโ€™t putted as well or converted as many putts as weโ€™d have liked.

โ€œWeโ€™ve been working on that and I happened to bump into Ken and Howler on the course and we were talking about a couple of things.

โ€œThey are two of the best putters Iโ€™ve ever met and any time youโ€™re talking to those guys, youโ€™re always going to pick something up.โ€

- Additional reporting by The42

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    Mute Michael Murray
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    Jan 26th 2025, 8:02 AM

    It was a cracking 40 alright. The improvement in accuracy vs their form in last couple of games was amazing. Thought young Coughlan brought a great tempo to the game and the backrow response to it was a delight to watch.

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    Mute damien reidy
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    Jan 26th 2025, 9:36 AM

    It was a very very good 40 ,
    We have struggled to out teams away and points in the right direction

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    Mute Donie Bolger
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    Jan 26th 2025, 1:17 PM

    Diarmaid Kilgallon was on fire, particularly in the first half. Many thanks to Dian Bleuler who was outstanding for every game.

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    Mute Fagin Strauss
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    Jan 26th 2025, 9:23 AM

    Strange going for a 6-2 split against the Dragons.

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    Mute Niall English
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    Jan 26th 2025, 9:28 AM

    @Fagin Strauss: have we any other backs that were actually fit to go on the bench?

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jan 26th 2025, 10:32 AM

    @Fagin Strauss: Shows how important a game it was imo. Going into any game you cant prepare for crโ‚ฌpness.

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    Mute damien reidy
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    Jan 26th 2025, 10:55 AM

    @Thesaltyurchin: completely agree ,
    This game had the potential to be a rough night

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    Mute adizlack93
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    Jan 26th 2025, 2:34 PM

    Against the worst team in the league. Then lost the second half 19-7. Take the points and move on but not a good 80 overall

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    Mute Kieran Jones
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    Jan 26th 2025, 5:11 PM

    @adizlack93: Nobody said the 80 was good but there is more context to the 2nd half.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jan 26th 2025, 7:18 PM

    @adizlack93: praise be the oracle has spoketh

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    Mute Brenda Collins
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    Jan 27th 2025, 1:22 AM

    @adizlack93: with a backrower in the centre, another backrower on the wing, a winger in the centre, and an academy hooker at blindside flanker. And they damn near got another score right at the end. Calm down.

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    Mute Justin Robinson
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    Jan 26th 2025, 12:55 PM

    Burns was excellent. Munster look much better with him at 10.

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jan 26th 2025, 8:03 PM

    @Justin Robinson: Was average imo, some sloppy passes at crucial times, looks tired after 20, glorious open kicking tho, talk of Flannery coming back but after tonights game Iโ€™d keep Billy just where he is lol! If Tony B isnโ€™t going to grab it Munster need cover there.

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    Mute Brenda Collins
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    Jan 27th 2025, 1:23 AM

    @Thesaltyurchin: has flannery delivered the goods at 10 for ulster?

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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jan 27th 2025, 9:29 AM

    @Brenda Collins: Not by a long shot imo, but has been dogged by injury AND theyโ€™re not playing great rn, tho I still fancy Ulster to make playoffs and potentially be a problem. Ben Brownlee the next player for a potential move to Munster.

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