ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- Past champions Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry were in a five-way tie for the lead at the Abu Dhabi Championship after opening rounds of 8-under 64s on Thursday.

The Ryder Cup stars led along with Frenchman Adrien Saddier , New Zealand's Kazuma Kobori and South African Richard Sterne -- the only player in the field to have also contested the first event in 2006.

Fleetwood, who won the tournament in 2017 and 2018, made eight birdies in a spotless round while 2019 champion Lowry carded nine birdies and a single bogey.

"It's Thursday. You can obviously play your way out of it, you can't win it, but eight under is a really nice way to start," Fleetwood said.

Saddier threatened to move into a sole lead in the afternoon after nine birdies over his

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