Spain’s Alejandro Canizares has claimed the lead after a first round of the DP World Tour Championship, ahead of Australia’s Marcus Fraser and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat.

The day’s play did little to change the battle to end the season as European number one.

Canizares completed a six-under-par 66 at Jumeirah Golf Estates to lead by one from Fraser and Aphibarnrat, with Race to Dubai leader Henrik Stenson a shot further back alongside Jamie Donaldson and Rafael Cabrera-Bello.

Stenson admitted he lost focus to three-putt the 18th for his only bogey of the day, but did enough to suggest his nearest challengers for the money list title will be hard pressed to overhaul him despite continuing to battle a wrist injury.

Playing partner Justin Rose, who needs to finish fifth or better, carded a two-under-par 70, while third-placed Graeme McDowell returned a 72 and fourth-placed Ian Poulter a 69.

“It has been a lot of hard work all season and I just let my focus slip on the last,” said Stenson, who is looking to become the first player to win the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai in the same year.

“That sucks, but I am still in good shape and playing nicely. The guys are running on fumes so everybody is looking forward to getting done.

“You can’t win a tournament on Thursday but you can certainly play your way out of it. I would have taken four under at the start of the day so I just have to let the disappointment of the last slip away.”