Sheehan leads in Japan

Australian Paul Sheehan snapped out of a slump to take the first-round lead in the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Miyazaki, Japan.

He sank a curling 35-foot birdie at the last to post a four-under-par 67 on a cold, sunny day at Phoenix Country Club.

“I’m very happy with the round but I certainly wasn’t expecting it,” said Sheehan – who heads a large group of seven players, including American Brandt Snedeker and Swede Henrik Stenson, by one stroke.

It was not a great day for either South African Ernie Els – who dropped three early shots on his way to a one-over 72 – or England’s defending champion Ian Poulter, struggling on the greens for a 73.

Ryo Ishikawa, Japan’s 17-year-old rising star, carded 72.