00:00Fleetwood, Lowry share lead after eventful first round.
00:04In Abu Dhabi's desert heat, Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry opened the 2025 Abu Dhabi Championship with matching 8 under-64s, part of a five-way tie.
00:15The DP World Tour has kicked off in spectacular fashion, and the leaderboard is already a traffic jam of elite names and underdog firepower.
00:23Fleetwood, with his famously fluid swing and calm precision, delivered a clinical round with eight birdies and zero blemishes.
00:31For a man who's already conquered this event twice, 2017 and 2018, Thursday's performance felt more like a reunion than a grind.
00:40It's Thursday. You can obviously play your way out of it. You can't win it, but 8 under is a really nice way to start, Fleetwood said, as measured as ever.
00:49Not to be outdone, Lowry, the 2019 champion, brought his signature aggression, stacking up nine birdies before a solitary bogey nudged his score back to the pack.
01:00The Irishman, known for thriving in high-pressure moments, looked comfortable and composed, a sign that he's eyeing a return to the winner's circle.
01:08But they're not alone. Joining them at the summit are France's Adrian Satier, South African veteran Richard Stern, and Kazuma Kabori of New Zealand, each carving out their own electric narratives.
01:20Satier was flirting with a solo lead after notching nine birdies through 16 holes, only to surrender a shot on the 17th.
01:28Stern's round, marked by two eagles and two bogeys, was a mix of fireworks and caution.
01:33Kabori's bogey-free effort hinted at a rising star ready to make noise on the global stage.
01:39Just one shot behind, seven players share seven under, including Alex Noren, Andy Sullivan, and Nikolai Hoigardt.
01:46Ludwig Oberg thrilled fans with a hole-in-one on the par-3 eighth, but remains four shots back, tied with Rory McIlroy.
01:53With three rounds left, Abu Dhabi's desert stage is set for more drama, movement, and either a new champion or a familiar resurgence.
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