Everything you need to know from round one at Royal Golf Club.
The course record was smashed but Brandon Robinson Thompson's bid for the DP World Tour's second 59 fell just short on day one of the 2025 Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship.
Here is everything you need to know from round one at Royal Golf Club.
Leader Robinson Thompson has us on 59 watch
Robinson Thompson enjoyed a dream start to the tournament, shooting a stunning 61 to smash the course record and lead by three strokes after 18 holes. But it was almost even better as the Englishman had a great chance to enter the DP World Tour history books as only the second player to shoot a 59 after making eight birdies and two eagles in his opening 17 holes. A birdie at the last was required but the HotelPlanner Tour graduate finished with his only bogey of the day, after going long with his approach from a fairway bunker, to head into the clubhouse at 11 under par. He said: "I think it’s my lowest round as a professional, let alone on the DP World Tour. It has to be up there with a Sunday to close out a HotelPlanner Tour event last year. I know it’s the first round but 61, that has to be first or second, surely."
Harrington almost spins it in
Irishman Pádraig Harrington produced a delightful approach shot from the eighth fairway, sending his ball over the flag before watching it spin back towards the hole. He may not have got the eagle the shot deserved but his consolation prize was a tap-in birdie.
Karlsson drains a monster
Robert Karlsson rolled back the years on day one as the 11-time DP World Tour champion holed from 45 feet for a birdie at the par-three seventh.
Larrazábal's sensational 66
With the wind picking up significantly in the afternoon, later starter Pablo Larrazábal's score of 66 was particularly impressive. The Spaniard sits in a tie for third on six under and will surely be one to watch as the week progresses. He said: "I played great, I like to play in the wind. I’ve got patience, I had a bogey on four, birdied the fifth and had a good run through eight and nine. I took care of the par fives and I took care of 18." Check out this brilliant recovery shot at the last...
Veerman's cruel horseshoe
Johannes Veerman must have been expecting his 19-foot birdie putt at the eighth to drop below ground as he watched it motor towards the cup. But when it reached the hole, his ball did a horseshoe and came straight back out, resting just in front of the hole. How unlucky...
