Abu Dhabi-based David Horsey tied at the top of the leaderboard at Valderrama

Abu Dhabi-based David Horsey of England shot a five under par 66 to be tied at the top of the leaderboard after round one of the €3 million Estrella Dam N.A. Andalucia Masters over the par 71, 7,028-yard layout at Valderrama, Spain.

Horsey was first off the 10th tee with an 8.40am tee time, and went to the turn in a strong three birdie 33, with no bogeys against a par of 36.

Further birdies at the first, third, fourth and sixth saw the 37-year-old stand at seven under par with just three holes to play.

A stumbling double bogey on hole 7, his 16th were followed by two pars and a promising opening round. Horsey a four-time winner on the DP World Tour lies in 118th on the DP World Tour Rankings.

Also handing in cards of 66, were Min Woo Lee (Australia), Jazz Janewattananond (Thailand) and Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark).

47 year-old Kjeldsen had perhaps the tidiest scorecard of the leaders with no bogeys and five birdies with matching nines of 33.

Dubai-based Adrian Otaegui (Spain) had contrasting nines of 30 and 37 to be one behind the leaders with many players still on the golf course.

Dubai ambassadors Rafa Cabrera Bello (Spain) and Adrian Meronk (Poland) were both over par with their rounds still to be completed.

The weather on Friday for round two, sees the strongest wind of the week forecast, picking up to 20mph in the afternoon for the later starters.

Other scores of note included Dubai-based Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium with a one under par 70.

Pre-tournament favourite Matt Fitzpatrick of England, eight-time winner on the DP World Tour, currently second on the DP World Tour Rankings and 10th in the OWGR, had a disappointing round of three over par 74 with a mixed bag of three birdies, four bogeys and a double on hole 18.

His younger brother Alex was four shots better with a round of 70.

This week’s tournament is week 39 of 43 on this season’s DP World Tour and with the Nedbank Golf Challenge a restricted field many players have this week and the next two weeks in Mallorca and Portugal to maintain their cards and/or, to secure their places in the top 50 in the Rankings to qualify for the 2022 $10 million DP World Tour Championship, Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 17-20. There is still a lot to be played for on the DP World Tour.