Day one digest: 2022 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Everything you need to know from day one of the first DP World Tour event of 2022.

Scott was hot, Victor made a fast start, Poults' parenting was keeping him going and a welcome face was back on the fairways on day one of the 2022 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Here is everything you need to know from Thursday at the opening Rolex Series event of the season at Yas Links.

Jamieson jumps ahead

Many players use the festive break to tinker with their game but not Scott Jamieson. The 38-year-old revealed that he was so happy with his form towards the end of 2021, he broke the habit of a lifetime and left his game well alone in the off-season. And it looked to be paying dividends as he carded a bogey-free 63 to get to nine under and open up a one-shot lead after 18 holes. "Just really solid all day to be honest," he said. "It's eight weeks off from tournament golf out here so you're always a little bit on edge probably to start off the day but birdie at the first kind of settled any edge there was and it was just really solid all day. This is the first off-season I haven't actually peeled the skin back and tried to figure out how to get better."

Poulter motivated by father-son rivalry

Ian Poulter revealed his rivalry with son Luke was spurring him on as he made an impressive start at Yas Links. The 46-year-old Englishman carded an opening 66 and said matches with Luke were keeping him young. "Trying to keep Luke from beating me is the biggest motivation I've got in the game," he said. "That's fun for me, the opportunities I get to play with him, which doesn't come around too often - he's busy, I'm busy. So you know, holding him at bay, still. He's really close. He's really close. We've tied the last few times, so it's really annoying, because now he hits it 30 past me. It's annoying him but it's actually self-motivating me."

Victor off to a flyer

Teeing off in the opening group off the first in your first event of the year, what's the dream start? How about seven under after seven with five birdies and an eagle? Take a bow Victor Perez. "After a long lay-off... obviously you practise, you do everything but nothing replaces competition so it was a little nerve wracking to start. I had as good of a start as anybody could have expected, really flying, holed out a shot - obviously a bit of fortune - but playing really nicely. Then you're in a situation that is a bit odd and I think every golfer knows, when you're really low through eight or nine holes, it's a weird balance because it's hard to keep going in a sense. I think you get a little bit outside your comfort zone."

Monty is back

A familiar face was on the fairways on Thursday as eight-time European Tour Number One Colin Montgomerie made his first appearance since the 2019 Dubai Desert Classic. The 58-year-old Scot fired a 75 and revealed some of the secrets to his remarkable success. "Every Saturday night I looked to the leaderboard and it was my goal to finish higher on a Sunday and it all added up to winning the odd Order of Merit that I might not have done otherwise. When I was 30th place I wanted to finish 29th, when I was second I wanted to finish first and generally I did well on Sundays and that was the key." 31 wins on the European Tour - yeah, you were pretty good on Sundays, Monty.

Kanaya lands two big birds

Takumi Kanaya was not the only player to eagle the par five second on Thursday. But he was the only player to do this at the sixth.

Two eagles in your first six holes - well played that man.

If you can't be good, be lucky

Lee Westwood was doing both on day one. First he was a bit lucky.

Then he was very, very good.

Tim and Brian having a ball

Brian O'Driscoll and Tim Henman are two fine golfers who have both played in the pro-am at the BMW PGA Championship. But on Thursday, it was back to the day job for these two sporting greats.