Marcus Fraser, Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter and Andy Sullivan may not be able to win The Race to Dubai this weekend but they all have something to play for at the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai.
The four men fired opening rounds of 66 to sit at the top of a congested leaderboard at Jumeirah Golf Estates as The European Tour season reaches its climax with the fourth event of The Final Series.
Rory McIlroy entered the week leading The Race to Dubai and he maintained that position after the first round on the Earth Course with a 68 that was matched by closest rival and playing partner Danny Willett.
Branden Grace is also one of seven men who could be crowned Europe's Number One on Sunday and he was alongside the duo at four under.
But for the four players leading the way after 18 holes, a win this week would represent a positive end to some very contrasting seasons.
While Sullivan is the only player this season to have claimed three wins so far, countryman Poulter briefly dropped out of the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings, resulting in a late dash to the UBS Hong Kong Open to ensure he would keep his European Tour Membership.
Former World Number One and 2010 Race to Dubai winner Martin Kaymer, meanwhile, is without a win since the US Open last year while Fraser is happy to be back in action after missing the bulk of last season due to a hand injury.
Poulter registered six birdies in an unblemished round and, as he seeks a first win here after second-placed finishes in 2010 and 2013, the Englishman is eager to get back to his best.
There's a lot at stake. I think more of it is probably pride than anything else - Ian Poulter
"Dropping outside the top 50 isn't very nice. Being down the list on the Order of Merit is not very nice.
"And wanting to put some points on the board for Ryder Cup would definitely be very helpful.
"So it's been a long five weeks, and it would be nice to finish strong."
Sullivan has a large and vocal support with him this week and he is hoping to give them something the cheer about after an indifferent Final Series so far.
The 28 year only recorded one round out of the first ten in the 60s but a 67-65 finish at the BMW Masters has given him some confidence as he looks for the biggest prize of his career.
"I think the way I played all year, I think it's time for me to kick on and really get myself up there in these big events now and really try and press on," he said.
For sure, I think it's time for me to try and kick on and get these big ones knocked off now - Andy Sullivan
Sullivan's 66 contained five birdies, an eagle and a bogey as he played alongside Kaymer who had eight birdies and two bogeys on his card.
The duo both birdied the last to join Fraser and Poulter at the summit and Sullivan revealed the two were spurring each other on.
"It was just great fun out there today," he said. "Me and Martin both played really well, so it was good to have both of us pulling each other along, one get in front of the other, and both finishing six under.
"But I'm swinging it really well on the range and I just said to myself, 'I'm the only person that can mess this up'. I just thought, 'go out there and enjoy it like I normally do and be mentally good'.
"On the whole, I'm really happy with where we stand."
Kaymer added: "We all know this is one of my favourite places where The European Tour goes; Abu Dhabi, Dubai.
"It seems like I do well here usually and I've had great success in the past, whether it's in Abu Dhabi winning a tournament or winning The European Tour rankings here in 2010.
"So for me coming to this part of the world is always a great pleasure."
Fraser had set the early pace with a bogey on the 16th the only blemish on his card and the Australian, who has missed just four cuts this year, was delighted to get off to a good start.
"It was good," he said. "I felt like I played great, felt like I was in control of my game most of the day. I managed to make a couple of putts - the greens are that good; if you pick the right line and you hit it on line, it's going to go in.
"It's always nice to get off to a fast start and I kept it going."
Francesco Molinari was alone in fifth position after a bogey free 67 with Grace, McIlroy and Willett joined at four under by Alejandro Cañizares, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Chris Wood and Fabrizio Zanotti.
McIlroy and Willett both turned in 34 but the Northern Irishman had a bogey on the tenth before back-to-back birdies on the 11th and 12th got him back on track and he finished by holing a brilliant bunker shot on the last.
Willett's only bogey of the day came on the 12th as he picked up shots on the back nine at the 11th, 14th and 18th.
Of the other contenders for The Race to Dubai, Byeong-hun An was two under with Justin Rose a further shot back, Louis Oosthuizen one over and Shane Lowry nine shots behind the leaders.
There was a group of nine players at three under including two-time 2015 winner Thomas Pieters and former World Number One Luke Donald.
