Koepka became third in Abu Dhabi after first round in three months
Brooks Koepka has won both the PGA Championship and the US Open twice the HSBC Championship of Abu Dhabi, day one leaderboard-8 S Norris (SA), R Paratore (Ita); -6 B Koepka (USA), J Scrivener (Aus); -5 K Kitayama (USA), Li Haotong (Chn), S Garcia (Spa), R Cabrera Bello (Spa), Z Murray (Aus), Z Lombard (SA) Selected others: -4 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -3 L Westwood, R Rock, R Bland, A Johnston, A Sullivan (all Eng); -2 D Law, D Drysdale (both Sco), J Singh Brar, M Southgate, R Fisher, D Howell (all Eng), S Lowry (Ire)
World number one Brooks Koepka is third in the Abu Dhabi championship after his first competitive golf round in three months after an injury.
The 29-year-old American shot a bogey free round of 66 and is two shots behind leaders Shaun Norris of South Africa and Renato Paratore in Italy.
Koepka, a four-fold big winner, had a stem cell treatment on his left knee at the end of August, but worsened the problem when he fell in October.
"It's good to be back," Koepka said.
"I clearly missed the game and I played really solid. I missed a few putts early, but drove the ball well and controlled distances really well – that's what you have to do here."
[19459004WhenaskedabouthiskneeKoepkatoldSkySports:"ItfeelsgoodItwasabitpainfullastnightThatisexpectedThisisthefirstweekIhaverun18holesandIhavedoneitthreetimesItisalittletired"
Koepka, whose injury meant he had to withdraw from the United States for the December President & # 39; s Cup, produced a bogey-free round of six under.
Both Norris and Paratore hit nine birdies, but bogey the par-three seventh.
Norris, 37, said: "It will be a dream come true to win a European Tour tournament. I stay with my guns. Stay with the same game plan and just go outside and have fun. "
Two-time winner Tommy Fleetwood is seven shots ahead of an opening 71, while 15-year-old English amateur Josh Hill – who defeated Koepka in a friendly game earlier this week – returned a two-over-par 74 and is in 97th place