Padraig Harrington encountered no problems dusting off the cobwebs from an extended winter break as the Dubliner opened with a four under par 68 on his seasonal debut in Abu Dhabi today.
The world number nine was joined by five other members from Europe's winning Ryder Cup team who returned to action in the desert for this week's Abu Dhabi Championship.
Harrington's card contained six birdies and just two dropped shots at the third and sixth to leave the current European number one tied eighth and trailing the first round leader, Philip Archer, by five shots.
Englishman Archer was in inspired form as he carded a nine under 63, which included no less than 10 birdies and a solitary dropped shot at the ninth. That left him three clear of fellow countryman Nick Dougherty, world number eight Retief Goosen, the highest ranked player in the field, and Sweden's Henrik Stenson.
Dougherty and Stenson, last year's runner up, both managed flawless rounds but Stenson did well to simply make it to the venue.
The 30-year-old arrived late to the course after being involved in an accident with a lorry.
"I took a detour on the way here and was in a crash, it could have been a nasty one," said Stenson. "I scratched the car. I missed the road on the way from the Emirates Palace and took a detour and not far away a lorry turned in front of me and I had to hit the brakes but just avoided going into the side of it.
"I got here 45 minutes ahead of my tee time instead of an hour and 45 minutes."
Defending champion Chris DiMarco made a solid start, carding 69 to be alongside alongside Colin Montgomerie but there was disappointment for Paul Casey as he opened with a 71.
Graeme McDowell and Peter Lawrie also shot 71s while Gary Murphy and Damien McGrane were a shot further back on level par.
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