Tyrrell Hatton began the defense of his Abu Dhabi Championship title by shooting 6-under 66 and was three strokes off the lead in second place midway through the first round on Thursday.
Rory McIlroy got off to a disappointing start to his first event of 2022, though, bogeying his final two holes for an even-par 72 at Yas Links, which was hosting the Rolex Series event on the European tour for the first time.
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Tyrrell Hatton began the defense of his Abu Dhabi Championship title by shooting 6-under 66 and was three strokes off the lead in second place midway through the first round on Thursday.
Hatton, who won the event last year at nearby Abu Dhabi Golf Club, was tied for second place with Victor Perez.
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy plays a shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship golf tournament at the Yas Links Golf Course, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoKamran Jebreili)
Sean Crocker from the U.S. studies a shot on the 10th hole during the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship golf tournament at the Yas Links Golf Course, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoKamran Jebreili)
Victor Perez of France plays a shot on the 10th hole during the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship golf tournament at the Yas Links Golf Course in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoKamran Jebreili)
Scott Jamieson, a Scot ranked No. 336, was leading after a bogey-free 63 that contained nine birdies — four of them coming in a five-hole span at the start of his back nine and the final one coming from 12 feet at the par-5 18th.
From left, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, Tyrrell Hatton and Lee Westwood both from England, walk on the 16th fairway during the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship golf tournament at the Yas Links Golf Course, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoKamran Jebreili)
Hatton, who won the event last year at nearby Abu Dhabi Golf Club, was tied for second place with Victor Perez.
Collin Morikawa, the British Open champion who won the Race to Dubai title last year, was among the afternoon starters and birdied his first hole.
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Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy reacts on the 10th hole during the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship golf tournament at the Yas Links Golf Course in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoKamran Jebreili)
Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy plays a shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship golf tournament at the Yas Links Golf Course, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoKamran Jebreili)
Sean Crocker from the U.S. studies a shot on the 10th hole during the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship golf tournament at the Yas Links Golf Course, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoKamran Jebreili)
Victor Perez of France plays a shot on the 10th hole during the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship golf tournament at the Yas Links Golf Course in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoKamran Jebreili)