BEIJING, Jan. 22 -- Ian Poulter of England shot a seven-under 65 Thursday to share a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Abu Dhabi Championship in the United Arab Emirates Thursday.
Also hitting a 65 were compatriot Richard Bland, who only just retained his playing card last year, and Keith Horne of South Africa, who had never qualified to play on the European Tour before his exemption for this tournament.
Spain's Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland shot 66s to follow in a group of nine, including Paul Lawrie, who won the 1999 British Open, Alvaro Quiros, Stephen Dodd and Daniel Vancsik, at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
Poulter sank seven birdies, including a 70-foot putt at the last that if it hadn't gone in "would have gone 10 foot past" the hole.
Todd Hamilton, the 2004 British Open champion, shot a 68. Defending European money list winner Lee Westwood hit a 69.
"You never play yourself out of a tournament shooting a 69," the Briton said. "And considering how rusty I felt it was a good start."
In La Quinta, California, Shane Bertsch, who has bounced between the PGA Tour and its satellite circuit over the last 15 years, charged into a two-shot lead in the Bob Hope Classic first round on Wednesday.
Making the most of receptive greens on a surprisingly cool day in the desert, American Bertsch fired a sizzling 10-under 62 on the Nicklaus Private course at PGA West, one of four venues hosting the five-round pro-am event.
Rookie Alex Prugh, making only his third appearance on the PGA Tour, and fellow American Jeff Quinney recorded matching 64s on the same Nicklaus layout.
Tour veteran JP Hayes launched his season in fine style with an eight-birdie 65 on the Palmer Private course, finishing level with fellow Americans Garrett Willis, George McNeill and Joe Ogilvie.
Willis started out on the Nicklaus layout, McNeill began at La Quinta Country Club and Ogilvie toured the Palmer course.
"It was just one of those rounds where everything kind of flowed together," Bertsch, 39, told reporters after compiling successive loops of five-under 31 in a flawless display. "I hadn't played the course since the late '90s. I didn't know really what to expect. I didn't do anything over-the-top great. My game was pretty solid all the way around."