DP World Tour Championship..
Matt Fitzpatrick boosted his chances of finishing his stellar 2022 season as European Number One as he produced a seven-under-par 65 in the first round of the DP World Tour Championship to share the lead with Tyrrell Hatton.
The U.S. Open Championship winner went into this week's season finale third on the DP World Tour Rankings in Partnership with Rolex but leads the projected standings after 18 holes, having made seven birdies and no bogeys on Thursday.
Fellow Englishman Hatton carded eight birdies before closing his round with a bogey on the 18th.
The co-leaders' nearest challenger was fellow Rolex Series winner Alex Noren, who was one shot behind following his flawless 66.
Adri Arnaus was in solo fourth on five under, with Tommy Fleetwood, Rasmus Højgaard, Yannik Paul, Callum Shinkwin and Kurt Kitayama one stroke further back.
Jumeirah Golf Estates' Earth Course has been a happy hunting ground for Fitzpatrick, who has two wins and three other top-ten finishes to his name from seven visits.
And it took the Englishman no time at all to find his feet as he flew out of the blocks, beginning his round with five straight birdies.
Fitzpatrick, who was suffering from a sore throat and dry cough on Thursday, was pleased with his day's work.
He said: "I think the biggest thing I'm pleased about today is just hitting 17 greens, and the one I missed, I was a complete idiot.
"That was the big thing that I was happy about today - that I kept giving myself chances and putted well as well."
Speaking about his opening birdie burst, he added: "I was laughing, to be honest. I literally said to (caddie) Billy (Foster) yesterday, 'When we won in 2020, didn't we have four in a row?'.
"And then we did four in a row, and then we laughed about that and I made a fifth. It was a nice start to the day."
Despite his position in the Rankings, Fitzpatrick was not keeping an eye on McIlroy and Fox's scores on Thursday.
"I have no idea how they are getting on," he added. "The way they are playing this week, it seems that it really is one shot at a time and you've got to be on your ball.
"Just because of how difficult I think it is with the rough, you're missing fairways, you can't give yourself any chances.
"It's difficult to control the ball coming out of the rough, and certainly around the greens it's the same deal, and it's only probably going to get firmer."
Hatton turned in 32 after picking up birdies at the first, second, fifth and seventh.
He then reeled off four birdies in a row from the 13th, including a marvellous, slow 64-foot effort at the 16th.
But a closing bogey meant he had to settle for a share of the lead.
Hatton said: "Obviously it was a good day. Hit a lot of good shots. Putter was great. Kind of happy with that start.
"Although my head's a bit fried at the moment. My mind is just raging at the last there. But it is what it is."
Rory McIlroy made 2 birdies in his first 3 holes, eventually out in -2 34 but he stalled on the back nine all pars and two bogeys including a nasty little 3 putt from 6' at the 16th. He managed to birdie the 18 with a magnificent 280yd 2nd to the fringe 17' away.
In at -1 71 he's T22, 6 shots off the lead.
Notables:
Tommy Fleetwood -4 68 T5, Jon Rahm -2 70 T14, Ryan Fox, Shane Lowry +1 73 T33, Victor Hovland +2 74 T40.
This sets up an interesting Friday with 4 of the top 6 well back, and will want to get in touch heading into the weekend.
50 players, no cut..
Bryan Angus
(europeantour.com)
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