Collin Morikawa remains on course to become the first American winner of the Race to Dubai following the opening day of the DP World Tour Championship.
The world No 2 shot six birdies and two bogeys in a four-under par round at Jumeirah Golf Estates. That put him in a group of 10 players tied for fifth, three shots behind the first-round leader Rory McIlroy.
Morikawa’s 68 was the lowest of the six players in contention for the Order of Merit crown this week.
Winning the season-ending tournament would guarantee Morikawa the title, but he could actually finish last and still top the standings.
For that to happen, his fellow American Billy Horschel would need to finish worse than a two-way tie for eighth, with the other four contenders failing to win around the Earth Course.
The English trio of Tyrrell Hatton, Paul Casey and Matt Fitzpatrick — the DP World Tour Championship holder — each carded opening rounds of 70, leaving them in a share of 20th.
Australia’s Min Woo Lee, the other player who could clinch the Race to Dubai with a win, signed for a level-par 72, while Horschel endured a tough first trip around the Earth Course.
The world No 21 carded a two-over par 74, leaving him 45th in the field. Only four players are worse off before the start of round two.
Morikawa, who was also in contention to become the first American Race to Dubai winner last year before eventually finishing fifth, was content enough with how his championship started.
“It was pretty solid throughout,” Morikawa said. “The two bogeys were a little unenforced but I made a few birdies out there and kept the momentum going. It was a good way to start the first round out here.
“I felt really good coming into the week with my irons. They showed up today on a few shots. I hit a couple good seven-irons and just need to keep doing that. That's my game. And when putts start to drop, we're close to the top of the leaderboard.”
Morikawa will start his second round at 11.45am on Friday, in a match with Nicolai Hojgaard, the 20-year-old Dane.
As the leader, McIlroy will be last out at 12.45pm. He will be playing with Tapio Pulkannen, the Finnish player who is making his debut at the DP World Tour Championship.
SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The Gentlemen
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars
Oscars in the UAE
The 90th Academy Awards will be aired in the UAE from 3.30am on Monday, March 5 on OSN, with the ceremony starting at 5am
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8
Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Price: from Dh850,000
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Tottenham Hotspur v Borussia Dortmund, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Day 3, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Just three balls remained in an exhausting day for Sri Lanka’s bowlers when they were afforded some belated cheer. Nuwan Pradeep, unrewarded in 15 overs to that point, let slip a seemingly innocuous delivery down the legside. Babar Azam feathered it behind, and Niroshan Dickwella dived to make a fine catch.
Stat of the day - 2.56 Shan Masood and Sami Aslam are the 16th opening partnership Pakistan have had in Tests in the past five years. That turnover at the top of the order – a new pair every 2.56 Test matches on average – is by far the fastest rate among the leading Test sides. Masood and Aslam put on 114 in their first alliance in Abu Dhabi.
The verdict Even by the normal standards of Test cricket in the UAE, this has been slow going. Pakistan’s run-rate of 2.38 per over is the lowest they have managed in a Test match in this country. With just 14 wickets having fallen in three days so far, it is difficult to see 26 dropping to bring about a result over the next two.
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
Company profile
Name: Oulo.com
Founder: Kamal Nazha
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2020
Number of employees: 5
Sector: Technology
Funding: $450,000
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
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