Right back on course

World no. 1 Koepka makes strong start to 2020 after injury layoff

ABU DHABI: World number one Brooks Koepka (pic) made a superb comeback from a 14-week injury layoff, shooting a bogey-free six-under 66 on the opening day of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

In the opening Rolex Series event of the European Tour season, that round left Koepka two shots behind leaders Renato Paratore and Shaun Norris, but it laid to rest all speculation about the fitness of the American four-time Major champion.

The 29-year-old Koepka was tied for third alongside Jason Scrivener of Australia, with six players in joint fifth on five-under, including former Masters champion Sergio Garcia.

Defending Abu Dhabi and British Open champion Shane Lowry of Ireland started his campaign with a two-under 70. Paired in the same group as Koepka, the world No. 19 paid for a double bogey on the par-three 12th hole.

Koepka was well in control of his game and rarely courted trouble. He also wielded a hot putter, making four of his six birdies from well outside 12 feet.

“It’s good to be back. I missed the competition, obviously,” he said. “Played really solid and if I really want to pick it apart, I missed a few putts early in the round.

“But I drove the ball well, controlled the ball flight and controlled the distances really well and that’s what you have to do out here.”

Koepka, who had to undergo stem cell treatment late last year for his left knee, said he felt fine after walking 18 holes for the past three days.

“The knee feels fine. It was a little sore last night,” he added. “Just did some treatment on it. That’s expected. This is a first week I’ve walked 18 holes and I’ve done it three times already.”

Italian Paratore and South Africa’s Norris had just one blemish each on their cards, both dropping shots on the difficult par-three seventh hole.

Norris, who finished second in the Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit for the past two years, was one-under through seven holes before making four birdies around the turn and then added three more in a row from the 14th onwards.

The 23-year-old Paratore, looking for his second European Tour win following his triumph in the 2017 Nordea Masters, closed with four straight birdies.

Two-time champion Tommy Fleetwood opened with a one-under 71, while three-time champion Martin Kaymer shot a four-under 68.