Fleetwood opens with 65, sits one behind Kim at DP World Tour finale

Tommy Fleetwood began his bid for a rare DP World double with a flawless seven-under 65, placing him one shot behind first-round leader Michael Kim at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. Kim set the pace with a bogey-free 64.

Fleetwood’s round matched his career-best score at the Earth Course and continued a remarkable stretch of form. The Englishman, who lives near Jumeirah Golf Estates, won the DP World India Championship last month and is eyeing a landmark sweep by adding the Tour Championship title in what he now considers his home city. He has twice finished runner-up here, in 2019 and 2023.

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy also made history, posting his 50th round of 66 or better on the Earth Course. He opened with three straight birdies, dropped a shot on the fourth, and added four more on the way to a six-under 66. McIlroy said it was among his best approach-play days in recent memory.

Fleetwood’s strong year includes his first PGA Tour victory at the Tour Championship in August, a key role in Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph at Bethpage Black, and last week’s runner-up finish in Abu Dhabi. “My results have been really good,” he said. “I think it’s just consistency of hard work in all areas.”

McIlroy sits one behind Fleetwood in a share of third with Thriston Lawrence and Andy Sullivan.

Kim, who has been globetrotting since the end of his PGA Tour season, continued his excellent autumn run. After wins in France and a top-10 in India, he produced eight birdies in a clean 64, including a stretch of five gains between the 10th and 15th. He said he has enjoyed travelling through Abu Dhabi, Dubai, France and India, and his sharp iron play—landing inside ten feet on 11 greens—gave him plenty of chances.

Not everyone went low on day one: Aaron Rai, who beat Fleetwood in a play-off in Abu Dhabi, struggled to a one-over 73 with two double bogeys.

Photo – DPWT

Story – V Krishnaswamy in Dubai