In the shimmering desert heat of Abu Dhabi, the DP World Tour has kicked off in spectacular fashion, and the leaderboard is already a traffic jam of elite names and underdog firepower. Former champions Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, both Ryder Cup stalwarts, opened the 2025 Abu Dhabi Championship with sizzling rounds of 8-under 64, surging into a five-way tie for the lead.
Fleetwood and Lowry Light Up the Desert
Fleetwood, with his famously fluid swing and calm precision, delivered a clinical round with eight birdies and zero blemishes. For a man who’s already conquered this event twice (2017 and 2018), Thursday’s performance felt more like a reunion than a grind. “It’s Thursday. You can obviously play your way out of it, you can’t win it, but 8-under is a really nice way to start,” Fleetwood said, as measured as ever.
Not to be outdone, Lowry, the 2019 champion, brought his signature aggression, stacking up nine birdies before a solitary bogey nudged his score back to the pack. The Irishman, known for thriving in high-pressure moments, looked comfortable and composed, a sign that he’s eyeing a return to the winner’s circle.
International Field Crowds the Top
But they’re not alone. Joining them at the summit are France’s Adrien Saddier, South African veteran Richard Sterne, and Kazuma Kobori of New Zealand, each carving out their own electric narratives. Saddier was flirting with a solo lead after notching nine birdies through 16 holes, only to surrender a shot on the 17th. Sterne’s round, marked by two eagles and two bogeys, was a mix of fireworks and caution, while Kobori’s bogey-free effort hinted at a rising star ready to make noise on the global stage.
Aberg’s Ace, McIlroy in Pursuit
Just one shot back, a stacked cohort of seven players sits at 7-under, including Sweden’s Alex Noren, England’s Andy Sullivan, and the ever-dangerous Nicolai Højgaard. Meanwhile, young phenom Ludvig Åberg provided a jolt of brilliance with a hole-in-one on the par-three eighth — an unforgettable moment in a round that still left him four shots adrift, alongside none other than Rory McIlroy.
The desert stage is set, the stars have arrived, and with three rounds to go, Abu Dhabi promises more drama, more movement, and perhaps a changing of the guard — or a resurgence of the familiar champions.
