Eddie Pepperell struggled in the opening round of the DP World Tour Championship today.

The Abingdon golfer shot a three-over-par 75 in Dubai, leaving just two players below him in the 60-strong field.

Pepperell, who had two injections in his back last week in order to make the event, parred his opening four holes before dropping a shot on the fifth.

He replied with back-to-back birdies, only to then record two bogeys in as many holes.

The Frilford Heath member dropped another shot on the 13th, and although a birdie on 15 got him back to just one over for his round, bogeys on both the 17th and 18th saw him drop back down the field.