Lowry gets lift from his friend in high places...

IT'S ABU DHABI DO FOR RYDER PALS

- EUAN PARSONS

RYDER CUP pals Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood teed each other up for a stunning start at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The playing partners bounced off each other to both shoot opening rounds of 64 to sit in a five-way tie for the lead.

Having also recorded a firstround 64 in the company of Fleetwood in India last month, Lowry was once again at his best with the reigning FedEx Cup champion by his side.

Lowry made nine birdies and a single bogey, while Fleetwood carded eight birdies in a spotless round to join Kazuma Kobori, Richard Sterne and Adrien Saddier on eight under par.