January 19, 2023: Returning to the circuit after a well-earned rest, Shubhankar Sharma showcased some of his finest golf on Thursday at Yas Links Abu Dhabi. He shot an opening round 67 to put himself in a nice spot. Luke Donald, the European Ryder Cup captain showed his hunger with a brilliant 64 to snatch the early lead before play was suspended in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
In the first Rolex Series event of the season, Shubhankar began his journey on the second nine. After a measured start, he picked up a birdie on the 18th, gaining momentum at the turn.
He kept his foot on the pedal from there. Shubhankar added birdies at the first, third, fifth, and seventh holes to account for an impressive opening round to kick-start his 2023 ride. The 32 on his way to the scoring tent helped him sign on a 67 for the day.
Donald finished with an impressive burst too. He shot four successive birdies to fly atop the leaderboard and take the early lead.
“Just playing here the last couple days, I felt like there was some low scores out here as long as the wind didn’t blow too hard. Just kind of suits my eye. It’s not too tight off the tee. I think you have to pick some good lines,” suggested Donald.
“I think you’re going to hit a lot of greens out here because you’re going to hit a lot of fairways, too. I putted very nicely today other than one three-putt on the third hole for my only bogey. I made a lot of good putts. I made a couple long ones, but just was very tidy. I think maybe a little inspired by watching some good golf from last week.
“I actually came into this year with higher expectations than I had in a while just for my own game. You know when you’re swinging reasonably well.
“I feel like I’ve done some good work on my long game with Jamie Gough, and I’ve done some good work with my short game with Pat Goss. And to be honest, I feel like my game is in a pretty good spot.
“It’s not totally surprising that I shot 64 today. I went out there, again, last couple days, I’ve been hitting it nicely, swinging well, and it was nice to carry that on today.”
The Englishman leads by one from Italy’s Guido Migliozzi and Australian Jason Scrivener. The two men shot matching scores of 65 to sit right behind Donald.
Séamus Power made the most of some benign early morning conditions at Yas to return home at six under par, just one behind the duo chasing Donald.
Edoardo and Francesco Molinari are keeping Shubhankar company at 67.
Darkness descended on Yas Links with round one incomplete, therefore those still with holes to play will return on Friday to finish their rounds. There is no change to round two tee times.
Scores after day one:
64 L DONALD (ENG),
65 G MIGLIOZZI (ITA), J SCRIVENER (AUS),
66 S POWER (IRL),
67 E MOLINARI (ITA), F MOLINARI (ITA), M KAWAMURA (JPN), S LOWRY (IRL), S SHARMA (IND), S VALIMAKI (FIN), S SODERBERG (SWE),
68 G COETZEE (RSA), P HARRINGTON (IRL), A LEVY (FRA), C HILL (SCO), T FLEETWOOD (ENG), H STENSON (SWE), M LEE (AUS), C SYME (SCO), C HANNA (USA),
69 M KIEFFER (GER), L WESTWOOD (ENG), M KINHULT (SWE), R CABRERA BELLO (ESP), T BJ?RN (DEN), T OLESEN (DEN), A ROZNER (FRA), E FERGUSON (SCO), S TARRIO (ESP),
70 A MERONK (POL), P LARRAZABAL (ESP), J CAMPILLO (ESP), J CATLIN (USA), R MACINTYRE (SCO), M PAVON (FRA), A WU (CHN), R RAMSAY (SCO), K SAMOOJA (FIN), A HIDALGO (ESP),
71 R FOX (NZL), J DONALDSON (WAL), T LAWRENCE (RSA), A BJORK (SWE), N HOJGAARD (DEN), G FORREST (SCO), J BRUN (FRA), V PEREZ (FRA), M WALLACE (ENG), O STRYDOM (RSA), T PULKKANEN (FIN), I POULTER (ENG), S KJELDSEN (DEN), C SHINKWIN (ENG), M ARMITAGE (ENG), J MORRISON (ENG), N KIMSEY (ENG), M HELLIGKILDE (DEN),
72 A SULLIVAN (ENG), T HATTON (ENG), P REED (USA), D LAW (SCO), B WIESBERGER (AUT), D HILLIER (NZL), D BRADBURY (ENG), S CROCKER (USA), A KNAPPE (GER), N ELVIRA (ESP), M SOUTHGATE (ENG), A NOREN (SWE), M KORHONEN (FIN), S HORSFIELD (ENG), J RITCHIE (RSA), N VON DELLINGSHAUSEN (GER), T MCKIBBIN (NIR),
