ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Martin Kaymer opened with an eagle and finished at 6-under 66 Thursday for a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
The European Tour rookie of the year in 2007 had five birdies and a bogey at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club's National Course to lead Henrik Stenson.
"I want to do well these three weeks in the Gulf as I have a chance to qualify for the World Match play,'' Kaymer said. "I think it was the nervousness, but I hit a very long drive on the first hole, which set up the eagle. And after that, I kept hitting some good drives and made the putts.''
Adam Scott birdied his final hole for a 68, which tied him for the third with Robert Karlsson. Lee Westwood (69) birdied his last three holes to get into a fifth-place tie with Peter Hedblom and Ignacio Garrido.
British Open champion Padraig Harrington (70) and defending champion Paul Casey (75) are also in the field.
| Player | Events | Points |
| Tiger Woods | 6 | 22,695 |
| Kenny Perry | 20 | 20,824 |
| Phil Mickelson | 15 | 16,199 |
| Player | Today | Thru | Total |
| Reavie, Chez | -3 | 7 | -9 |
| Franco, Carlos | -2 | 13 | -6 |
| Mayfair, Billy | -3 | 10 | -6 |