'Steady' Stenson on course for European No.1 in DP World Tour Championship opener

Swedish golf ace Henrik Stenson has remained steady on his course to become the new European No.1 on the opening day of the eight million-dollar DP World Tour Championship on Thursday with a sublime four-under-par 68.

Although Stenson's otherwise flawless day was marred only by a missed par putt from three feet on the final hole at the Earth course of Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, he finished as the best among the nine players in with a chance of winning the Race to Dubai this week.

According to Sport24, Stenson, who is struggling with a wrist injury and needed to pull out of the pro-am on Tuesday to rest, missed just one green in regulation and hit 12 out of 14 fairways to sit five under after 17 holes.

Meanwhile, the report mentioned that Australia's Marcus Fraser and Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat were tied second at five under par after shooting rounds of 67, while Welshman Jamie Donaldson was tied alongside Stenson and Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello at 68.

Race to Dubai No.2 Justin Rose of England opened with a 70, No.3 Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland was on level par, while No.4 Ian Poulter of England started with a 69, the report added.