Dubai resident Tommy Fleetwood is the first-round leader at the ROLEX Series event held at Yas Links Abu Dhabi, which is the $9 million Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The DP World Tour Play-Offs have kicked off at Yas Links, marking the first of two Rolex Series events to wrap up the DP World Tour season in the UAE. While the best score in the first round was a 62, there's still potential for a record-breaking score, as only one other time in DP World Tour history has a barrier been broken.

The course is in impeccable condition, as evidenced by Rory McIlroy's observation that he hardly saw a blade of grass out of place. Corey Finn, the Cluster Director of Agronomy for VIYA Golf Abu Dhabi, and his team deserve credit for maintaining such pristine tees and fairways, and arguably better fringes around the greens than many tour greens.

The weather has been unusually warm for November in the UAE, with hardly a breath of wind. Tommy Fleetwood, currently ranked 10th in the world, shot a 10 under par round, which isn't surprising given his residency in the UAE. Living in either Abu Dhabi or Dubai, in my opinion, gives these players an edge over others.

It's fascinating to see players like Tommy Fleetwood, Adrian Meronk, Nicolas Colsaerts, and others make the UAE their home, and I predict more will follow, especially with the benefits of Dubai Golden VISAs and property investment. The warm climate, excellent golf courses, and generous hospitality contribute to their success.

Day two promises to be exciting, and I hope my players can climb the leaderboard. This week, standout players include Joaquin Niemann (Chile) with a 66, Guido Migliozzi (Italy) with a 68, and Grant Forrest (Scotland) with a 73.

Round 1 Scores (7,424 Yards, Par 72): Fleetwood (Eng) 62, Oleson (Den) 63, Veerman (US) 63, Hatton (Eng) 64, Waring (Eng) 64, Canter (Eng) 64, Laporta (It) 64.

Peter Cowen, a renowned coach with numerous tournament wins, operates the Peter Cowen Academies at Emirates Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf Resort, with headquarters in Rotherham, England.

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