Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood made a fine start to his title defence as the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA began.
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 remained four under with six to play.
That left the 26 year old one ahead of Denmark's Lasse Jensen, Belgian Thomas Detry and Scottish pair Stephen Gallacher and Richie Ramsay.
A star-studded leaderboard saw the likes of Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson lie two under during the early stages, with McIlroy part of the group a shot further back.
Johnson, who finished runner-up to Fleetwood on his tournament debut last year, turned in a two-under 34 but then dropped shots at the third and fourth to return to level par.
Gallacher – whose fine record in the Middle East include two Dubai Desert Classic victories – joined Fleetwood out in front when he reached the long 18th in two and tapped in for birdie after his eagle effort pulled up short.
