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McIlroy plays out of the sand this morning. Kamran Jebreili/PA Images

McIlroy in the hunt in Abu Dhabi as defending champion Fleetwood makes flying start

The former world number one is three shots off the Englishman’s lead.

DEFENDING CHAMPION TOMMY Fleetwood made a flawless start to the 2018 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship this morning, carding a bogey-free six-under par total to hold a one-shot lead.

Victory at Abu Dhabi Golf Club put the English golfer on the path to winning the Race to Dubai last year and he started the 2018 event with three birdies on the front nine, before matching that feat coming home.

His six-under par total leaves him one shot clear of Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zanotti and two ahead of the Scottish pair of Richie Ramsey and Stephen Gallagher, as well as Finland’s Miko Ilonen.

Rory McIlroy is one of six players a shot further back on -3. Like Fleetwood, he birdied three of his opening eight holes but had to settle for 10 pars in a row to close out his round.

Ireland’s Paul Dunne is -1 through his opening four holes.

The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):

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    Mute Gerry Peyton
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:12 PM

    C’mon the Pool!

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    Mute Acedeuce
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:32 PM

    @Gerry Peyton: it’s a little cold to be going to the pool.. Maybe around summer time come back to me

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    Mute Hank_Scorpio
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:49 PM

    Hooray defence has changed a little.
    Liverpool starting XI: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Can, Lovren, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Coutinho, Salah, Firmino. Subs: Karius, Klavan, Grujic, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Solanke, Sturridge.

    Some good news finally.

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    Mute Ronan Rafferty
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:52 PM

    @Hank_Scorpio: Emre Can at centre Half?

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    Mute Hank_Scorpio
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:56 PM

    @Ronan Rafferty: at this stage I take a traffic cone over some of the centre halves.

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    Mute Hank_Scorpio
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 3:07 PM

    @Ronan Rafferty: plus it’s good to see No 23 back in the defence.

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    Mute Colin Floyd
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:15 PM

    Brighton to Win and Shane Duffy to score a header..

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:29 PM

    @Colin Floyd: you are a header

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    Mute Laura Walsh
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 4:19 PM

    @Colin Floyd: threw himself to the ground for that peno, our Shane.

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    Mute powerfix
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:57 PM

    Come on Hendo Cano Dumo Robo Salo Gimpo Harpo Gypo and Kloppo . Majestic !

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    Mute Gerry Peyton
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 3:46 PM

    @powerfix: whatever your in to, we won’t judge.

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    Mute dannyboy
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 2:23 PM

    A Brighton win here wouldnt surprise me….if they contain and mark Salah, then they should score and take the points…i’m a big fan of Chris Houghton who was very hard done by at Norwich..

    And on to more important news…well done Chelsea another 3 points and the gap is closing….ish !!!!

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    Mute Link
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 3:28 PM

    @dannyboy: Hard done by at Newcastle too. The man gets no respect from up high but players have never had a bad word to say. Excellent football man, terrible footballing politician. Unfortunately that’s the same as every other walk of life. Big Sam, anyone?

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    Mute Gerry Peyton
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 3:44 PM

    @dannyboy: Houghton?? Wasn’t he yer man that put the ball in the back of the English net?

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    Mute Justin Barrett
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 5:01 PM

    @dannyboy: Great prediction, you must be a real football man, Lol!

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    Mute powerfix
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    Dec 2nd 2017, 4:07 PM

    3-3 anyone ?

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    Mute Chris Perrey
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    Dec 3rd 2017, 3:08 AM

    @powerfix: yeah maybe in 10 years

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