Northern Ireland golfer Rory McIlroy is in a group of 10 players sharing second place on 6 under, after day one of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
The Holywood man shot an opening round of 66, making the turn in 33, with a run of three birdies in four holes.
His second nine got off to a good start with a birdie at the par five tenth, but a double bogey 6 on the next hole would hand back two shots to the course.
McIlroy responded in the best way possible with back to back birdies at the 12th and 13th holes, before moving into a tie for the lead, with a two at the par 3 15th and yet another birdie at the 17th.
His share of the lead was short lived however, as Ian Poulter popped up with a massive put on the last to move to 7 under.
Meanwhile Darren Clarke and fellow countryman Graeme McDowell both opened with rounds of 70.
Clarke got off to the better start making the turn in 34 before heading home with two bogeys and two birdies.
McDowell finished stronger with a two under par back nine that included three birdies and a bogey after making the turn at level par.
Belfast golfer Michael Hoey threw away a possible round of 70 when he double bogeyed the 18th to finish at level par.
Gareth Maybin was the worst of the Northern Irish players shooting an opening round of 75 to leave him three over.
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