Abu Dhabi: Jeev Milkha Singh got off to a fine start as he shot a bogey-free four-under 68 in the first round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship here.
The star Indian golfer, who is looking to reverse the slide he faced in 2014, had four birdies and no bogeys as he was lying tied 14th with some players yet to come in.
Anirban Lahiri, playing his first event as a member of the European Tour after earning his rights at the Qualifying School, got off to a superb birdie-birdie but gave the two shots away and ended with an even par 72, while Shiv Kapur struggled to four-over 76 with a birdie on 18th being the only consolation to his day's work.
Two-time Major winner, including the 2014 US Open, Martin Kaymer, also a three-time winner in Abu Dhabi (2008, 2010 and 2011) put himself in the driver's seat yet again with a stunning round of eight-under 64.
He had 10 birdies and two bogeys and was one shot ahead of 22-year-old Belgian Thomas Pieters (65), who had seven birdies in his first 13 holes.
The tournament got off to a great start as Tom Lewis (69) and veteran Miguel Angel Jimenez (72) shot a hole-in-one each.
Lewis landed his ace with a 7-Iron on the seventh, while Jimenez, who led Europe in EurAsia Cup, had his ace on the 15th from 174 yards.
At six-under 66 was the trio of in-form South African Branden Grace, Frenchman Gregory Bourdy and Englishman Tyrell Hatton.
Rory McIlroy, making his first appearance of the year, sits alongside playing partner Rickie Fowler and Peter Uihlein on five under after an impressive final nine holes.
The World No. one failed to follow up a birdie on the 10th, his first, as a bogey on the 17th meant he completed the back nine in level par.
However, he sparked into life courtesy of a brilliant shot from the edge of the rough and bunker on the third to secure an unlikely birdie, one of five gains in six holes to complete a 67.
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