Friday 22 January 2016 11:19, UK
Amateur Bryson DeChambeau upstaged a high-profile field to hold a narrow one-shot lead after the first round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
The 22-year-old stole the limelight from world No 1 Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy by posting a birdie-filled 64 at Abu Dhabi GC, giving the American a one-shot lead over nearest challenger Henrik Stenson.
After bouncing back from a blemish at the third with back-to-back birdies over the next two holes, DeChambeau then followed an eagle-three at the eighth with successive gains around the turn to make a move up the leaderboard.
Further shots picked up at the 13th and 14th saw the amateur tied with Stenson on seven under, before a two-putt gain at the last gave the physics graduate the outright advantage.
"It was quite incredible," DeChambeau said. "I had no expectations and was just able to freewheel a little bit and that allows me to do my best."
"I've learned to believe in myself. It happened at the NCAAs and I'm just growing that confidence, that belief, each and every single day.
"Once I got comfortable with the driver on the first couple of holes, I started whaling away on a couple and got around some corners and was able to have some shorter irons into greens and I was able to make some birdies."
At eight under, the defending NCAA and US Amateur champion is one ahead of Stenson, making his first start since undergoing knee surgery, with McIlroy tied with Branden Grace a further stroke back after a strong start to the week playing alongside Spieth.
Grace had looked set to threaten the outright lead when a hat-trick of birdies moved the South African six under after 10 holes, but he couldn't make any further inroads over the closing stretch.
"I concentration around the turn, but those things happen," Grace said. "On a golf course like this, anything from four and better under is a great score out here."
A bogey-free 67 from Andy Sullivan lifted the Englishman to five under with one-time leader Richard Bland, while British Masters champion Matt Fitzpatrick joins Spieth, who was warned for slow play, four off the pace.
Watch the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Live coverage begins on Friday from 7am.
