With his Payne Stewart hat and trademark upright shafts 22 year old US Amateur Champion Bryson DeChambeau stole the show this morning firing a -8 64 to take the clubhouse lead just a shot ahead of Henrik Stenson -7 65 with the big three, McIlroy, Spieth and Fowler all trailing but right in contention.
This is only Dehambeau's second event in Europe but he played and conducted himself like a seasoned pro. He dropped a shot on the third but followed that with back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth but it was an eagle on the eighth that really made his round special. Another birdie at the ninth had him out in 32. He didn't let up with another flawless 32 on the back including a birdie at the last for his brilliant 64.
Stenson, showed little rust playing six weeks after knee surgery, his -7 65 had only one bogey and that was good enough to sit a shot clear of McIlroy who had an impressive -6 66 with Spieth who struggled with his driver, two shots back at -4 68.
Rory starting at the 10th was out in 33, and mixed 5 birdies with 2 bogey's for 33 coming in. He has finished second at this Abu Dhabi Golf Club in four of the last five years
Meanwhile his other playing partner Rickie Fowler opened with a bogey 6 on their opening hole when his first putt rolled 16' past and it took him until their back nine to find the pace of the greens, Out in 35 with 2 bogey's and 3 birdies, then back with 8 pars and a birdie 35 -2 70.
Meanwhile his other playing partner Rickie Fowler opened with a bogey 6 on their opening hole when his first putt rolled 16' past and it took him until their back nine to find the pace of the greens, Out in 35 with 2 bogey's and 3 birdies, then back with 8 pars and a birdie 35 -2 70.
It's a great leaderboard with South African star Branden Grace T3 at -6 66, Richard Bland and Andy Sullivan both fired -5 67 with Thomas Bjørn -4 68 and David Howell -4 68 to sit alongside Spieth.
Martin Kaymer who has won three times at Abu Dhabi played the back nine first and really got it going with four birdies in a row from the 15th to go out in -4 32 but he stalled after the turn with eight straight pars spoiled by a bogey at the last for -3 69.
Mike Weir now ranked 745th in the world continues his long road back to the player we all know with a tough 80 which included 5 bogey's a triple, a double and 2 birdies.
Mike Weir now ranked 745th in the world continues his long road back to the player we all know with a tough 80 which included 5 bogey's a triple, a double and 2 birdies.
Bryan Angus
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