Kaymer takes Abu Dhabi lead
Martin Kaymer carded an eight-under par 64 on Thursday to open up a one shot lead after the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
Kaymer fired four birdies and a bogey on the front nine and six birdies and a bogey on the way in to hit the front at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
“I putted well. I made ten birdies. I’m not sure if I have ever done it on a golf course, hit ten birdies,” he told the European Tour website.
“I hit a lot of fairways, my irons were quite sharp and I putted well. It’s very difficult to shoot a bad score when you play like this.
“Now the goal is not to compare myself tomorrow to the round what happened today. Tomorrow will be a new start but it’s a brilliant start to a great tournament.”
The German will win the tournament for a fourth time should he triumph this year, after winning in 2008, 2010 and 2011 and finishing as runner-up in 2009.
The 30 year old played alongside defending champion Pablo Larrazabal, who finished the first round on one-under after carding a 71.
Belgium’s Thomas Pieters holds second on the leaderboard after firing eight birdies and a single bogey on his way to carding a seven-under 65. The 22-year-old is yet to win a European Tour event.
A group of five players currently share third place, including Alexander Levy who won the Portugal Master and Volvo China Open on the European Tour last year.
World number one Rory McIlroy is one shot behind, tied for eighth with five other players, after carding a 67.
Latest
-
NewsLeona Maguire plays starring role on debut as Europe win Solheim Cup on US soil
Maguire’s singles victory over Jennifer Kupcho at Inverness Club gave her four-and-a-half points from five matches.
-
NewsLeona Maguire stars as Europe win Solheim Cup on US soil
Maguire’s singles victory over Jennifer Kupcho gave her four and a half points from five matches on her debut in the biennial contest.
-
NewsPatrick Cantlay wins FedEx Cup after edging out Jon Rahm at Tour Championship
Cantlay carded a closing 69 at East Lake to finish 21 under par.
-
NewsEurope hold the advantage heading into final day of Solheim Cup
The visitors are in pursuit of only a second victory on US soil in the contest’s history.
-
NewsNicolai Hojgaard completes back-to-back European Tour wins for the family
Hojgaard’s twin Rasmus won last week’s tournament.
-
NewsLeona Maguire stars for Europe before United States fight back in Solheim Cup
The hosts hit back strongly after Europe led by four points.
-
NewsMadelene Sagstrom reduced to tears as Europe dominate day one of Solheim Cup
The Swedish player was penalised for picking up her opponent’s ball to concede a putt before the allotted time had elapsed.
-
NewsControversy benefits Nelly Korda as Europe dominate on day one of Solheim Cup
The world number one was on the right side of a ruling which saw her and Ally Ewing move one up on Madelene Sagstrom and Nanna Koerstz Madsen.
-
NewsReid and Maguire get the better of the Korda sisters as Europe start strongly
Europe’s Solheim Cup team lead their American counterparts by three points.
-
NewsNicolai Hojgaard takes narrow third-round lead in Italian Open
The Dane is looking to emulate his twin brother Rasmus as a European Tour winner.