Super start for Stenson

Henrik Stenson carded a superb opening round of 65, seven under par, to claim a slender clubhouse lead at the HSBC Champions on a wet opening day in Shanghai.

Stenson started the day in disappointing fashion with a bogey five, but responded by picking up five shots in six holes – highlighted by an eagle three at the second after converting from five feet – before reaching the turn in five under.

He played a solid back nine, picking up two shots over his last three holes in deteriorating conditions to take his place at the top of the leaderboard, a stroke ahead of Sergio Garcia, Anthony Kim and Adam Scott.

“It was a good day, especially because I haven’t been playing very good lately, especially with the longer clubs,” Stenson said.

Garcia, who can overtake defending champion Phil Mickelson as world number two with a top-three finish this week and a poor performance from the American, carded a flawless opening 66.

Garcia made the ideal start with a solid outward half of 34 before coming home in 32, including back to back birdies to start the back nine as the weather closed in and made visibility tricky.

The Spaniard had a chance for an eagle at the last but, after hitting a five wood from 230 yards to four feet, watched as the putt lipped out and was forced to settle for a closing birdie.

“It was a solid round. I played well and hit the ball good,” said Garcia, who won October’s Castello Masters at his home club.

“Unfortunately my putting stroke did not feel as good as it has lately, maybe down to the jet lag.”

Ryder Cup winner Kim, who has taken up affiliate membership of the European Tour in 2009, reached the turn in 32 after also carding an eagle at the second before a mixed back nine of 34 left him just a shot off the pace.

“It was a very good day for me,” he said. “It is only my fourth day of golf in about three and a half weeks because I have been under the weather as I injured my ankle and my jaw.”

Zimbabwe’s Marc Cayeux and Englishman Oliver Wilson sit in the clubhouse at five under after signing for first rounds of 67, with Mickelson also a shot off the pace in the closing stages of his opening round.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington finished on three under, tied for fourteenth place. Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane are tied at four under after the first round.