Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have made pedestrian starts at the DP World Tour Championship with English pair Matthew Fitzpatrick and Tyrrell Hatton leading the way on seven-under-par at the Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai.
Fitzpatrick made a scintillating start to the tournament on the Earth Course, opening with five straight birdies to shoot up the leaderboard. Further birdies followed at the eighth and 14th holes to ensure a share of the lead at the end of play.
Despite a bogey at the last, it was a good day for Hatton as he had eight birdies in all, including four on the trot between the 13th and 16th.
McIlroy was also quick out of the blocks with two birdies in his first three holes – the second of those after a beautiful softly landed bounce approach at the third – but the rest of his round would be an up and down affair.
After a bogey at five, back-to-back birdies followed at the seventh and eighth before his front nine was rounded off with a bogey.
Two more would follow at 12 and 16 to send him back to level par before a four on the par-five 18th ensured he was one-under-par after round one.
Shane Lowry finds himself in the bottom half of the 50-player event after a one-over-par 73.
Bunker trouble after an errant tee shot at the par-three fourth led to a double bogey while his card featured a further four bogeys and five birdies to leave him in a tie for 33rd.
McIlroy and Ryan Fox can claim the the Harry Vardon trophy awarded to whoever tops the DP World Tour rankings at the conclusion of the event with outright victory.
Lowry, Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland and Adrian Meronk could also finish top of the pile depend on how other players perform.
