Tyrrell Hatton put himself in a strong position to end a 2022 campaign which he described as "consistently very, very average" with a record-breaking fifth Rolex Series title after firing an opening 65 at the DP World Tour Championship.
Hatton shares the first-round lead alongside fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick after carding eight birdies - including four in a row from the 13th - and a single bogey at Jumeirah Golf Estates on Thursday.
The 31-year-old already has four Rolex Series titles to his name and would become the first player to win five with victory here.
A trip to the winner's circle on Sunday would also be his first in 2022, with Hatton having been unable to maintain the quick start he made to the season.
Reflecting on his year, Hatton said: "I would say consistently very, very average. Apart from that good finish at Bay Hill. And I think we were leading the Desert Classic on Saturday afternoon.
"So there was a few good events at the start of the year I guess, but then after Bay Hill it's been pretty boring.
"Nothing to get excited about to be honest. And although I've made a lot of cuts - I think I've only missed two cuts this year - I won't miss 2022."
But Hatton found his very best form in the first round in Dubai, reeling off back-to-back birdies at the first and second courtesy of putts from around 14 feet.
A par save from 20 feet at the third kept the Englishman's card clean before further birdies on the fifth and seventh took him to the turn in 32 blows.
Hatton sent his tee-shot at the short 13th to three feet before converting the close-range putt for a fifth birdie of the day.
He managed to get up and down from a tough spot for another birdie on the par-five 14th, holing the putt from 15 feet.
And his putter remained hot as he made it three in a row at the 15th before brilliantly rolling his extremely slow 64-foot birdie putt into the hole for a fourth straight gain on the 16th.
Having just produced an early putt-of-the-week contender at the previous hole, Hatton came close to draining his lengthy effort on the 17th but his pacy putt hit the hole and stayed above ground.
But after getting into bunker trouble at the 18th, Hatton dropped his first shot of the day there to head into the clubhouse on seven under.
Speaking about his round, Hatton said: "Obviously it was a good day. Hit a lot of good shots. Putter was great. Kind of happy with that start.
"Although my head's a bit fried at the moment. My mind is just raging at the last there. But it is what it is."
