Tommy Fleetwood began the defence of his Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA title with a flawless 66 to set the clubhouse target at six under par on day one.
The Englishman, whose victory at Abu Dhabi Golf Club 12 months ago set him on the way to winning the Race to Dubai, turned in a three-under-par 33 after starting on the back nine.
Having hit his third close at the par-five tenth, his first, Fleetwood carded further gains at the 13th after firing to tap-in range and the 18th, where he found the green in two but settled for birdie after missing a 20-foot eagle effort.
Playing alongside World Number One Dustin Johnson and four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy, Fleetwood picked up another shot at the long second after chipping to three feet and converted from close range at the sixth and eighth to complete his scoring for the day.
“Very stress-free,” said Fleetwood, who hit all 18 greens in regulation. “Played really well from start to finish. Felt like I did what you need to do well around this golf course, which is drive it well, hit your irons, but you can't really be too greedy all the time.
“My pace putting was really good. Just basically did what you need to do to get a good score around the golf course. 18 greens, doesn't happen very often so nice to do it around here. All in all, very good morning.”
Paraguay's Fabrizio Zanotti, who has missed the cut in three of his last four appearances at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, finished birdie-eagle to lie second on five under following a bogey-free 67.
Scotland's Richie Ramsay was in the clubhouse on four under, along with compatriot Stephen Gallacher and Finn Mikko Ilonen.
Northern Ireland's McIlroy waited 12 holes for his first birdie but a couple of late gains saw him finish on three under, alongside France's Romain Wattel, Dane Thorbjørn Olesen, South Africa's Trevor Immelman and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Swede Alexander Bjork, while Johnson mixed four bogeys with four birdies in a level par round.
