Intro:

Reaction after Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry claimed the joint lead in the first round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, UAE on Thursday (20th November).

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Rory McIlroy, DP World Tour Championship joint leader (on his opening round):

"It was very solid. I feel like I missed a lot of putts in middle part of the round. I got off to a fast start, obviously. I gave myself quite a few opportunities around the middle, around the turn, and didn't quite make them, but I made a really good par-save on 12, and then finished quite strongly. So, hopefully I can start to hole a few more putts over the next few days and try to go even lower."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Rory McIlroy, DP World Tour Championship joint leader (on joint leader and friend Shane Lowry):

"Shane's been playing well. He's found a really, good bit of form, ever since the (2014 BMW Championship at) Wentworth. He finished second (behind McIlroy) at Wentworth and he went on from there, a good finish at the Open and then he's been playing pretty well since. So it's good to see him up there and, it should be, an enjoyable round tomorrow."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Shane Lowry, DP World Tour Championship joint leader (on his opening round):

"Yes, it's pretty good. Anytime you shoot 66 anywhere it's quite decent, but this golf course can be difficult at times and, I went out there today, I played nicely. Played one real bad hole and other than that I played beautiful golf. So, yes, I'm pretty happy."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Henrik Stenson, Joint fifth in the DP World Tour Championship (on his opening round):

"Yes, I'm pleased with that. It's always a little breezier in the afternoon around here and yes, I'm happy with the way I played. I gave myself plenty of chances. Didn't convert all of them earlier on. I missed a few makeable putts for sure, and then I actually ran into a couple of bogeys, so after eight I wasn't the happiest chap out there possibly, but I turned it around, birdied nine and 11 and a bunch of birdies coming in. So, I'm pleased with that start. I played solid and, I'll take that any day around here. Four-under is not bad."