Bushey golfer Callum Shinkwin had to settle for a level-par 72 at the DP World Tour Championship after battling back from a difficult middle part of his opening round following a good start.

The 24-year-old, who is playing in the finale to the European Tour season for the first time, picked up three birdies in his opening seven holes at Jumeirah Golf Estates. However, he was to go out in a one-over-par score of 37 following consecutive double bogeys, and another dropped shot at 11 saw him slip back to plus-two.

But the Moor Park Golf Club professional steadied the ship with three pars before making consecutive birdie threes to finish on even-par and in a share of 40th place at the end of the first round, seven behind leader Patrick Reed.

While Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia are involved in a battle to win the Race to Dubai title, Shinkwin is looking to finish the season as high up the rankings as possible after going into the event in 40th place.

The former English Amateur champion started well with birdie twos at the fourth and sixth holes and also made four at the par five seventh to move to three-under.

That early momentum was lost with back-to-back sixes at eight and nine, and Shinkwin slipped further back with a five at the 11th. But he ensured he finished his opening 18 holes in an upbeat manner by picking up his fourth and fifth birdies of the day by making three at 15 and 16.