DUBAI: Henrik Stenson enjoyed a near flawless opening day of the $8m DP World Tour Championship yesterday, marred only by a missed par putt from three feet on the final hole.
At the Earth course of Jumeirah Golf Estates, the Swede shot a sublime four-under-par 68 to remain on course to become the new European No.1, finishing as the best among the nine players in with a chance of winning the Race to Dubai this week.
Stenson was just two shots off the early pace set by Spaniard Alejandro Canizares, while Australia’s Marcus Fraser and Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat were tied second at five under par after shooting rounds of 67.
Welshman Jamie Donaldson, second last week at the Turkish Open and one of eight players who can still overtake Stenson, was tied alongside the Swede and Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello at 68.
Race to Dubai No.2 Justin Rose of England opened with a 70, No.3 Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland was on level par, while No.4 Ian Poulter of England started with a 69.
Defending champion and former world No.1 Rory McIlroy started with back-to-back birdies, but could not get any more after the seventh and finished at one-under-par 71.
All eyes were on the last two two-balls, comprising the four players in control of their own destiny, and it was Stenson who was the best on the opening day.
The 37-year-old, who is struggling with a wrist injury and needed to pull out of the pro-am on Tuesday to rest, missed just one green in regulation and hit 12 out of 14 fairways to sit five under after 17 holes.
He made his only mistake of the day at the par-5 last when he reached the green in three and then three-putted for his only bogey of the round.
Despite that, Stenson said: “I played really solid. I hit a lot of good shots, and a lot of good putts as well.
“You can’t win tournaments on a Thursday, but you can certainly play your way out of them. So, I’m happy the way I’m playing and I would have taken a four-under.
“I will let that slight disappointment of the three-putt on the last disappear and then we’ll look forward to tomorrow.”
Poulter, who missed several chances in his 69, said: “I am annoyed. I holed two putts that were outside birdie range, and then missed most others. The greens are tricky to read and very quick.
“I am playing as good as I ever have, I am more confident than I ever have been and I am swinging better than I ever have. That’s a good combination and I think I am in a great position just three behind the leaders.” AFP
