A certain synergy exists when Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry are paired together on the golf course. Following a shared tee time spanning 36 holes at the 2025 India Championship just a couple of weeks prior, where they showcased impressive teamwork, the two Europeans reunited on Thursday at Yas Links Abu Dhabi. Their efforts resulted in matching scores of 64, placing them in a shared lead at the commencement of the DP World Tour playoffs.
Lowry and Fleetwood weren’t the only competitors to achieve a score of 8 under in the opening round of the 2025 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Richard Sterne, Adrien Saddier, and Kazuma Kobori also reached that mark, joining the two Ryder Cup participants at the top. Sweden’s Alex Noren and American Michael Kim are close behind, trailing by only one stroke, while England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Aaron Rai are part of a group positioned at 6 under.
“My performance off the tee was remarkably strong, and I believe I made sound choices in that regard,” Fleetwood commented. “I felt confident in the shots I selected and executed. My putting was also effective. I made a significant par save on the 12th hole, which I followed with a birdie, a crucial moment in what would become a very successful round. I’m very pleased, but it’s only Thursday. It’s possible to lose ground, though you can’t secure a win. An 8-under start is definitely encouraging.”
Fleetwood, who was ranked No. 26 in the Race to Dubai at the start of the week, began with a strong showing. He achieved a straightforward birdie on the first hole, quickly followed by another on the par-5 2nd. He really made an impact around the midpoint of the course, adding five birdies to his scorecard between holes 7 and 13.
While Fleetwood highlighted his performance from the tee, his putting game deserves equal attention. Maintaining his career’s best performance on the greens, the 34-year-old successfully made five putts from beyond 8 feet, including a critical par save on the par-4 12th, succeeded by a 23-foot birdie on the subsequent hole.
Fleetwood’s inability to secure a birdie on the par-5 final hole, combined with Lowry’s last birdie of the day, resulted in a tie between the two at 8 under. Lowry’s initial four birdies on the front nine were all achieved from within 3 feet, before his putting became more effective on the back nine. His only setback on the scorecard was a three-putt from 70 feet on the 12th hole.
“I was in the same pairing with him in India for the initial two days, and I also scored 64,” Lowry mentioned. “There’s definitely something about playing with Tommy. I enjoy playing alongside him; he’s a friend and a great golfer. We tend to motivate each other. It was a positive experience.”
While Fleetwood and Lowry lead the tournament standings, Rory McIlroy still holds the top spot in the Race to Dubai rankings. Introducing a new TaylorMade Qi4D driver to his equipment, the grand slam winner’s week started with a bit of uncertainty when he had to play a provisional shot from the first tee. However, after locating his original tee shot and salvaging a par, McIlroy regained his stride, finishing with a 4-under 68.
“I felt the driver performed well,” McIlroy stated. “It’s a new addition to my bag this week. I think it worked out positively. I hit some solid iron shots and felt I managed my ball effectively in the wind, especially as it picked up during the last few holes. I just need to sink more putts. That’s what separated my score today from being closer to the lead.”
McIlroy’s nearest rival in the season-long competition had a front-row view on Thursday, as Marco Penge shared a tee time with the Northern Irishman for the first instance in his professional journey. The Englishman surpassed McIlroy by just one stroke, following a mixed beginning that included a birdie, eagle, bogey, bogey, and another birdie.
Penge settled down during the day and ultimately recorded a 67, securing a spot within the top 20 and potentially closing the gap with McIlroy before the upcoming DP World Tour Championship. At 5 under, the three-time DP World Tour victor this season is positioned alongside his fellow countryman Matt Fitzpatrick on the leaderboard.
“It was a fantastic experience,” Penge mentioned. “Considering my own game in comparison to playing with him today, I’ll probably keep those thoughts to myself, but it was indeed good. Rory might not have been at his absolute best, but it was still an amazing opportunity to play with a Grand Slam winner and a legend of European golf.”
