Newly-engaged Richie Ramsay showed the way for the nine Scots contesting the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Ramsay posted a three under par 69 to be lying only two strokes behind the leading duo of Rory McIlroy and Sweden’s Robert Karlsson.

McIlroy out-scored playing partners Tiger Woods (70) and Luke Donald (71) in his very first event of the New Year.

Three players – England’s Richard Finch, Northern Irelands’ Gareth Maybin and Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet – are tied in third place at four under par.   

Newly-engaged Richie Ramsay shoots a 69 on first day of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. (Photo - Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

Ramsay’s effort, less than a fortnight after getting engaged, is his lowest-ever Abu Dhabi round and the first time he’s broken 70 in seven rounds of the National Club course.

The standout shot of his first round of the New Year was a 198-yard 4-iron to two feet for birdie at 17 to go to three under par.

And despite having to seek treatment for an upset stomach, Ramsay was delighted with his effort.

“I’m really pleased with that as I played really good without being too flash as this is the hardest the course has ever played,” said the Scot.

“The thing is that I was quite relaxed out and that’s probably due to having been in the States for a pretty decent break.

“Maybe also it has something to do with getting engaged.”

Ramsay not only battled an upset stomach but he’s also struggled to shake off the jet lag in returning to competition.

“I am suffering some stomach cramps last night and this morning but the physio chaps gave me a couple of pills that settled me down,” he added.

“Also I’m slowly getting back to a regular sleeping pattern as my body clock has still been in Atlanta for the past few days.”

Footnote –

Ramsay will get married on September 21st at the Hazeltine club in Minnesota and where in 2006 he met his girlfriend, Angela on route to victory in the U.S. Amateur Championship.