Sergio Garcia sparkles to share early lead at Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic

Denmark's Joachim B Hansen tees-off on the seventh hole during Day 1 of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 27, 2022. Getty

Tommy Fleetwood of England plays a shot on the 14th fairway. AP

Justin Harding of South Africa plays his approach shot on the 14th hole. Getty

Tommy Fleetwood of England, Scotland's Robert Macintyre and Adam Scott of Australia walk down the 14th hole. Getty

Sergio Garcia of Spain lines up a putt on the 9th green during day one of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 27, 2022. Getty

Sergio Garcia of Spain hits his second shot on the 8th hole. Getty

Sergio Gracia of Spain plays his tee-shot on the eighth hole. Getty

Sergio Garcia of Spain plays his second on the 10th hole. Getty

Spain's Sergio Garcia plays a shot on the 10th fairway. AP

Jason Scrivener of Austrlia plays his approach shot on the 13th hole. Getty

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his second shot on the 17th hole. Getty

Richie Ramsay of Scotland hits his third shot on the third hole. Getty

Joakim Lagergren of Sweden hits his third shot on the 2nd hole at Emirates Golf Club. Getty Images

Jack Singh Brar of England hits his third shot on the Second. Getty

Spains' Pablo Larrazabal hits his third shot on the second hole. Getty

Rory McIlroy plays his approach shot on the 16th hole. Getty

Rory McIlroy after his tee-shot on the 17th hole. Getty

Rory McIlroy plays his tee shot on the 16th hole. Getty

Kristoffer Broberg of Sweden tees off on the 13th hole. Getty

Tyrrell Hatton plays his approach shot on the 13th hole. Getty

Rory McIlroy plays his approach shot on the 13th hole. Getty Images

Fans walk on the 13th hole. Getty Images

Collin Morikawa of USA plays his third shot on the 13th hole. Getty

Shubhankar Sharma of India plays his approach shot on the 10th hole. Getty

Romain Langasque of France plays his approach shot on the 10th hole. Getty

A general view of the 12th green. Getty

Sergio Garcia sparkled in the sunshine as he raced to an early share of the lead on the opening day of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.

The Spaniard, who won around the Majlis Course in 2017, fired a 5-under-par 67 in Round 1.

That score was matched among the early starters by his compatriot Pablo Larrazabal.

Three players finished their 18 holes within a shot of the lead, including Collin Morikawa, the world No 2.

The American had appeared to be on course for something rather more significant than that, after he raced out of the blocks following his 8am start with Rory McIlroy and Bernd Weisberger.

Playing the back nine first, Morikawa had a makeable putt for eagle at 18 which would have given him a 7-under total of 30 for his opening nine.

Morikawa did make birdie, but his round faltered from then on, as he ended up signing for a 4-under-par 68.

His cooling off coincided with temperatures rising at Emirates Golf Club.

Both Garcia and Larrazabal suggested the warmth had something to do with their good form around the fairways.

“The weather really helps,” said Garcia, whose win in 2017 famously prefaced him winning the Masters at Augusta.

“It's a really nice golf course and I've done well here, so that also helps. It's usually a nice to way to start the year. You're always excited to come back.”

Larrazabal won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in 2014, and acknowledged the weather in the Middle East suits him, too.

“What are you wearing?” Larrazabal said. “You're wearing a shirt. You're not wearing a jacket.

“That's it. I play good with a shirt on. I don't like to wear jackets and all that stuff.”

The greens on the Majlis have been remodelled ahead of this tournament, and Larrazabal said he is a fan of the changes.

“This is my 14th time that I have played around here and these greens, they never treat me properly,” he said.

“So I'm glad they change the greens, and they run perfect. Obviously, they are new, so the ball is bouncing a little too much.

“But the job they did making some new pin positions, the way they shaped those greens now, they are much better, and I'm glad they did it, and I have to congratulate them.”