Shane Lowry made a flying start to his 2019 campaign as he produced a flawless 62 on day one of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA to equal the course record.
Irishman Lowry became the first man to match Henrik Stenson's 13 year old record after firing ten birdies and no bogeys early on Wednesday to open up a three-shot clubhouse lead ahead of 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, Richard Sterne and Mike Lorenzo-Vera.
Lowry enjoyed a long break over the Christmas period, having not played competitively since the 2018 ISPS Handa Melbourne World Cup of Golf in November.
And the 31 year old looked refreshed as, starting the first Rolex Series event of the 2019 Race to Dubai season at the tenth tee, he notched five birdies in seven holes from the 12th to reach the turn in 31.
And he continued to shine on his back nine, reeling off three straight birdies at the first, second and third before rolling in from 20 feet at the short seventh to get to nine under.
Lowry picked up another shot from around five feet at the eighth to tie Stenson's record before a lovely approach into the ninth green handed him the chance to make history at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
But his 12-foot birdie putt pulled up just short and he had to settle for a closing par and a round of 62.
Wednesday's round also matched Lowry's career best from the 2009 3 Irish Open, which he won as an amateur.
Lowry was thrilled with his day's work. He said: "I'm obviously over the moon. It equals the best score I've ever shot.
"I knew that, as well, and I said it to my caddie coming down the last - 'A birdie here would be the best score I've ever shot', to which obviously he said, 'Well then why don't you just go for it'.
"I left the putt short but I felt like I hit a decent putt, it was just a bit more into the grain than I felt, and yeah, obviously I'm very chuffed.
"I had quite a lot of time off since the World Cup but put in a decent bit of work the last two weeks over here in Dubai and I've just gone out with not much expectation but knew I was playing OK and yeah, everything clicked.
"I didn't hit as many fairways as I would have liked but I was hitting everything close and managed to hole a couple of putts, as well.
"It was one of those days where it just felt comfortable. Even standing there on the last hole, sometimes you can get a little bit anxious or nervous in situations like that, but I just felt great, hit a long, good drive and nice second shot.
"But look, I just want to enjoy it because it's a great day.
"So I'll enjoy it and then get out tomorrow and see what I can do."
