Sharma fails to build on fine start, slips to T-47 after first day at Dubai

Shubhankar Sharma was unable to build on his brilliant start and was placed tied 47th on the opening day of the season-ending DP World Tour Championships.

At the Jumeirah Golf Estate's Earth course, Sharma first hit by a three-putt on sixth, missed a short birdie chance on seventh but then had trouble with a shoe bite from the eighth onwards and lost the momentum.

"I lost the momentum there (on sixth and seventh) and also misread some of the greens and ended with five three-putts," said a disappointed Sharma.

However, the young 22-year-old Indian star, who won twice at the start of the current European Tour season, should still finish the season with one of European Tour's big rewards the Harry Cotton Rookie of the Year award, where he is leading by a big margin.

Spain's Adrian Otaegui, winner of Belgian Knock Out and Englishman Jordan Smith posted first rounds of 66 each to take the lead.

Otaegui was bogey free, while Smith had a six-under 30 with five birdies, an eagle and a bogey .