England's Andy Sullivan and South Korean Kim Yeongsu are tied after day one in Japan on the DP World Tour at the 2023 ISPS HANDA – CHAMPIONSHIP after getting their campaign's underway with opening 63s.

The DP World Tour is breaking new ground this week with their first ever tournament in Japan, being played alongside the Japan Golf Tour Organisation.

Sullivan who is a four-time winner on the DP World Tour, had eight birdies and one solo bogey on Thursday at PGM Ishioka Golf Club.

'Really pleased, just got off to a good start. A lot of right flags out there for me to find.'

It’s getting close

Sullivan continued 'Me and my coach have been working on going back to when I was playing my best, around 2015, 16, so we’ve looked at swings from there and almost tried to mimic that. It’s getting close, feel confident with the irons. Driver is still taking a bit of work. On the whole the game is feeling good. It feels a lot more under control again, less of the erratic shots.' 

'The course is in perfect condition. The greens are really good, some of the best we have played all year. If you get it on line it’s probably going in. It was a very nice morning to play golf.'

Cockerill as mentioned is at six under par alongside Swede Alex Björk and Challenge Tour graduate Deon Germishuys from South Africa.

UAE residents after Day One:T31 - Rafa Cabrera Bello (-3)T49 - Adri Arnaus (-2)T100 - Nicolas Colsaerts (Par)