GR-EIGHT START FOR TOMMY AND HIS PAL SHANE

SHANE LOWRY felt he and Ryder Cup teammate Tommy Fleetwood fed off each other as the playing partners shot opening rounds of 64 to sit in a five-way tie for the lead at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

- BY EUAN PARSONS

Having also carded a first-round 64 in the company of Fleetwood in India last month, the Irishman was once again at his very 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.