The swirling wind made scoring tricky for many of the competitors in the first round of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, but South Africa's Keith Horne found little problem as he moved smoothly into a two-shot lead.

The 34 year old, who qualified for the tournament through finishing in the top five of the South African Airways Open in December, made the most of his opportunity with a flawless six under par 66 to post a new course record and open up a two-shot lead over Vijay Singh, Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Argentine Ricardo Gonzalez.

Singh, the world number two, feeling on top of his game after two good weeks in Hawaii, picked up two birdies on each nine in his 68.

Damien McGrane is best of the Irish after a flawless 70 that included birdies at the second and 18th, while Peter Lawrie on four-over-par 76 and Gary Murphy, a shot further back on 77, have a lot of ground to make-up if they are to make the cut.

However, the day belonged to Tour rookie Horne, who upstaged the big names with a sizzling six-under-par 66 after reeling off six birdies during an amazing 10-hole stretch from the fifth.

Spain's Sergio Garcia was tied for 10th after a two-under-par 70 but Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and American John Daly could only manage level par as they joined 14 players tied for 34th place.

And Montgomerie's woes were not the only ones to suffer, with European Order of Merit leader David Howell labouring to a one-over par 73. Nick Dougherty and Kenneth Ferrie fired rounds of 74, while Ian Poulter and Paul Casey could not better par.

"It was pretty tough out there as the winds quickly picked up. It was really gusty but a 68 is not a bad start," said Singh who began his round with a birdie on the 548-yard par five 10th.

"I am really pleased with my efforts. It was one of the few rounds without a bogey -- that's another pleasing aspect of the round," added the pre-tournament favourite.

US TOUR: Chad Campbell fired a second round of six-under-par 66 to open a six shots lead after two rounds of the five-round Bob Hope Crysler Classic in California.

Birdies at the fifth, sixth and eighth took Campbell to the turn in 33 and he added three more birdies on the homeward journey at the 10th, 13th and 17th for his 66 and a two-round total of 15 under par 129.

Kevin Sutherland was first in on nine-under-par 135 after a second round 67 with Mike Weir DA Points tied on 136.