Paul Casey could not find a single birdie at Abu Dhabi Golf Club

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD:
GB & Ire unless stated
-6 M Kaymer (Ger)
-5 H Stenson (Swe)
-4 R Karlsson (Swe), A Scott (Aus)
-3 I Garrido (Sp), P Hedblom (Swe), L Westwood
Selected others:
-1 L Donald
Level D Clarke, P Harrington, C Montgomerie
+3 P Casey

Paul Casey endured a difficult start to his defence of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship as he slid to a three-over-par round of 75.

Casey had bogeys on the fifth, seventh and 16th holes as he ended the first round nine shots off the pace established by Germany's Martin Kaymer.

British fortunes were lifted by Lee Westwood, whose 69 featured birdies at each of the last three holes.

Swede Henrik Stenson started with a 67, to sit one behind the leader.

Robert Karlsson and Adam Scott were tied for third at four-under, while Westwood's three-under-par round was matched by Peter Hedblom and Ignacio Garrido.

Kaymer made a brilliant start to his first tournament since winning the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year accolade with an eagle three at his first hole, the 10th.

606: DEBATE Much stronger field in Abu Dhabi than the Bob Hope Classic kwiniaskagolfer

The 23-year-old dropped his only shot of the round at the par three 15th before quickly regaining the stroke three holes later.

Four birdies on the front nine followed to hand Kaymer, who ranks Ernie Els as his golfing role model, a slender lead over Dubai-based Stenson.

"I have had a long break since playing at the World Cup eight or nine weeks ago so I couldn't wait to get out here and play a tournament," said Kaymer.

"I am really pleased with the round because I made several putts and it wasn't that easy to play today because it was windy," added Kaymer, who shot an incredible 13-under-par 59 at the Habsberg Classic on the EDF Tour in June 2007.

Stenson, the 2006 Qatar Masters champion, had been the early pace-setter.

He said: "The key here is to stay out of the rough, this is the thickest rough we have seen here and the thickest I've played all year.