Shane Lowry superbly ignited hopes of banking a second Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title in six years with a sit-up and take notice display on day one of the event he won six years ago.
And for a second DP World Tour event in succession, Lowry feels right at ease having been drawn with good friend and fellow dual Ryder Cup winning colleague Tommy Fleetwood and with the Englishman helping to bring out the best in Lowry after both players posted eight-under first-rounds of 64 to be among five leading the way on the host Yas Links course in the UAE capital.
Fleetwood went onto to win the DP World India Championship and with Lowry sharing third.
LOWRY @ShaneLowryGolf looks to bank second @ADGolfChamps in six years @YasLinksGC after posting 6⃣4⃣ on day one in back-to-back #DPWorldTour events
And second event in succession both he & @TommyFleetwood1 have been together day one & also each shot 6⃣4⃣
Read:… pic.twitter.com/O5QGqqvsfg
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) November 6, 2025
At day’s end in the UAE Lowry and Fleetwood were tied at the top with three others including Japan’s Kazuma Kobori, South African Richard Sterne and Frenchman Adrien Saddier.
“It was nice,” said 2019 champion Lowry, who also has Rasmus Højgaard playing in the same group for the opening two days.
“I was pretty excited when I saw the group, my pairing today and it was nice to go out there with the boys.
“I was paired with (Fleetwood) in India the first two days and I shot 64 as well.
“So yeah, something about me and Tommy. But no, I just like playing with him, your friend, and really good player too.
“And you kind of feed off each other. It was nice.”
Fleetwood also enjoyed a fruitful first day at Yas Links, making eight birdies in his bogey-free 64.
Speaking about his group, he said: “Again I’m very lucky. Very comfortable three ball. I’m so close to both the guys, Ryder Cup team-mates, played with Rasmus last week. It was great.
“Just you all go out there and you do your thing, and you’re just very comfortable in each other’s company.
“As much as you focus on your own game, and yeah, shouldn’t make that much difference but definitely when you’re in a comfortable pairing or group, yeah, it’s nice. It’s helpful.”
After both shooting opening rounds of 64, Tommy and Shane give us their thoughts️#ADGolfChamps | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/9L3zr2nwA1
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 6, 2025
Then in a novel twist the winning Ryder Cup duo then interviewed each other after the round, with Lowry saying: “I played nice. I didn’t feel overly comfortable but I hit some nice shots and I was just hanging on to Tommy Fleetwood’s coattails, trying to keep up with him!”
Fleetwood added: “I played very well, Shane. I think it always helps when you’re in a nice three ball, playing with Rasmus – who I’m close with – and then Shane.
“I had a great day. I think we played some good golf and fed off each other a little bit and looking forward to the rest of the week.”
While Fleetwood is currently lying 45th on the Race to Dubai and already projected to jump to 12th that would put well among the lesting 50 at the week’s end, Lowry arriving in Abu Dhabi currently ranked 112th but having missed out in not being among the leading 70 on the money list to qualify for the Abu Dhabi event.
However the DP World Tour has allowed all European Ryder Cup players who did not end the year inside the leading 70 but were inside the top-115 on the Race to Dubai money list to compete at Yas Links
- Thanks to DP World Tour.
