Kepka "6-Under Par in Comeback"... "The Dignity of World No. 1"

On the First Day of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Norris and Paratore Share the Lead, Wang Jeonghoon Tied for 50th Place

Brooks Koepka is preparing for a tee shot on the 10th hole during the first day of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Dubai (UAE) = Getty Images / Photo by Multibits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] It is the dazzling return of world No. 1 Brooks Koepka (USA).

On the early morning of the 17th (Korean time) at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club (par 72, 7,583 yards) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the first day of the European Tour's 'Rolex Series Round 1' Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (total prize money $7 million) ended with Koepka shooting 6 under par to tie for 3rd place. Shaun Norris (South Africa) and Renato Paratore (Italy) both shot 8 under par, sharing the lead by one stroke. From Korea, Wang Jeong-hoon (25) remained tied for 50th at 1 under par.

Koepka swept three wins on the PGA Tour last year, including successfully defending his title at the second major, the PGA Championship, for the first time in 12 years. He also showed consistency by finishing in the 'top 5' in all four majors, including runner-up finishes at the Masters and the US Open, and a tie for 4th at The Open. He is particularly strong in majors, having won the US Open consecutively in 2017 and 2018. Of his seven career wins, four are majors, earning him the nickname 'Major Hunter.'

It is somewhat regrettable that he lost the 'Player of the Year' award to FedEx Cup (PO) champion Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland). His knee surgery in October remains a variable. He withdrew after the second round of The CJ Cup and returned to competition after three months. On this day, he made six birdies. He started off well with a birdie on the first hole, the 10th (par 5), gained momentum with a birdie on the 15th (par 3), and secured two pairs of consecutive birdies on the 17th and 18th holes and the back nine's 2nd and 3rd holes.

It is important to note that Koepka unleashed long drives averaging 315 yards. It appears he has fully recovered from his injury. Although his tee shots were somewhat shaky, he relied on his destructive power to reach the green directly from the rough, operating 'piercing iron shots' with a green hit rate of 83.3%, and maintained his score on the three holes where he missed the green. Koepka himself expressed confidence, saying, "I have put a lot of effort into rehabilitation for a long time," and "My physical condition is not bad."

Sergio Garcia (Spain) is tied for 5th at 5 under par, and Brandon Grace (South Africa), who won the South African Open on the 13th, is tied for 11th at 4 under par, aiming for back-to-back wins. Defending champion Shane Lowry (Ireland), on the other hand, is struggling, tied for 33rd at 2 under par. 'Number 6' Patrick Cantlay (USA) and two-time consecutive winner in 2017-2018 Tommy Fleetwood (England) joined the tie for 50th place. Wang Jeong-hoon recorded three birdies and two bogeys.

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