Abu Dhabi Championship: Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry in five-way share of lead in DP World Tour Play-Off
Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry are part of a five-way tie for the lead after opening-round 64s at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Ryder Cup team-mates Fleetwood and Lowry – the 2020 champion – were joined in the clubhouse at eight-under by South Africa’s Richard Sterne, Adrien Saddier of France, and New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori.
The five leaders hold a one-shot advantage over seven players at seven-under, with Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy four shots back after carding a 68 at Yas Links.
McIlroy was joined on four-under by Ludwig Åberg, who produced the shot of the day with a hole-in-one at the par-3 eighth – his second career ace, following one at the 2025 Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines in February.
Marco Penge, McIlroy’s closest challenger in the Race to Dubai, carded an eagle and six birdies to finish a shot ahead of the Northern Irishman on five-under.
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Ludvig Åberg sinks a hole-in-one on the eighth hole at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
What’s next?
Coverage of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship continues on Friday on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event from 4am, with round three starting at 4.30am on Saturday and Sunday’s final round starting at 3am.
The DP World Tour Play-Offs conclude with the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai from November 13.
You can follow every shot live on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage beginning at 7am for the first three days and 6.30am for Sunday’s final round.
