World number one Brooks Koepka is tied third at the Abu Dhabi Championship after his first competitive round of golf in three months following injury.
The 29-year-old American shot a bogey free round of 66 and is two shots behind leaders Shaun Norris of South Africa and Italy’s Renato Paratore.
Koepka, a four-time Major winner, had stem cell treatment on his left knee at the end of August but aggravated the problem when he fell over in October.
“I missed the competition obviously and I played really solid. I missed a few putts early on, but drove the ball well and controlled distances really well – that’s what you have to do out here.”
Koepka, whose injury meant he had to withdraw from the United States team for December’s Presidents Cup, produced a bogey-free round of six under.
Two-time winner Tommy Fleetwood is seven shots off the lead after an opening 71, while 15-year-old English amateur Josh Hill – who beat Koepka in a practice match earlier this week – returned a two-over-par 74 and is tied 97th.
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