Justin Rose in contention for third consecutive Turkish Airlines Open

Justin Rose got off to a fast start in his bid for a successful threepeat at the Turkish Airlines Open with an opening 5-under 67.

While Rose's previous back-to-back Turkish Airlines Open wins came at Carya Golf Club, the Englishman is bidding to join esteemed company at Montgomerie Maxx Royal this week. 

Should Rose prevail, he will join Sir Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and Colin Montgomerie as the only players to win a tournament three straight years on the European Tour. 

Rose started brightly with two birdies on his opening four holes to go out in 33 strokes, and then sandwiched in an eagle-three on the par-5 11th amongst bogeys at 10 and 12. 

But the former World No.1 rallied to the house with three closing birdies, highlighted by this gem at the penultimate hole...

More @JustinRose99 magic #TurkishAirlinesOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/L8mQ8Gl1ai

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 7, 2019

Austria's Matthias Schwab continued his impressive run of form, fresh off a tied fourth at the WGC-HSBC Champions last week, and he leads alongside England's Tom Lewis on 7-under par. 

Schwab's bogey-free 65 marked his 28th round under-par in his last 32 starts, while Lewis is seeking his first European Tour title of the season despite winning the season-ending Korn Ferry Tour Championship in September to lock up his PGA Tour card for 2020. 

Schwab’s 28th under par round in his last 32 starts #TurkishAirlinesOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/sh9g4d8LKY

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 7, 2019

Thomas Pieters was a strong fancy for this week's tournament given there are five par-5s at Montgomerie Maxx Royal and the big-hitting Belgian proved exactly that with a solid 6-under 66. 

After the round, Pieters BURNED playing partner Eddie Pepperell, who carded a 2-under 70 with this...

"I was hitting short irons into par 5s, where as Eddie was hitting 3-wood..."@PepperellEddie #TurkishAirlinesOpen #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/XKjAyLVugl

— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) November 7, 2019

Pieters lies alongside Alex Noren and David Lipsky in a tie for third. 

Danny Willett, winner of the recent BMW PGA Championship, got his hopes for a second Rolex Series win of the season off to a great start by joining Rose on 5-under par with four others. 

A total of 51 players out of the starting 75 carded rounds under-par on day one, so it will be a case of keeping the foot on the gas until Sunday evening with plenty of birdies up for grabs in Antalya this week.