Molinari leads the way in Singapore

Edoardo Molinari set the early mark on nine under par at the Singapore Open with a brilliant opening round of 62.

Playing the Tanjong Course, considered the easier of the two at Sentosa Golf Club, four birdies and a dropped shot at the ninth saw Molinari reach the turn three-under for the day.

The 30-year-old then reeled off six birdies coming home that included three in a row from the 12th, finishing in style when a close approach to the par-four 18th brought a three and moved him to nine under.

Molinari leads YE Yang by a stroke after the Korean posted a 63 on the Tanjong course.

Reaching the turn in 32 following two birdies and an eagle, Yang collected three more shots but pulled his tee shot on the final hole into the rough down the left. He recovered, though, and a long birdie putt saw him finish eight under par.

Jbe Kruger was in the group at six-under thanks to a fine bogey-free 65 on Serapong, while Colin Montgomerie also made an encouraging start with a 67 on Tanjong.

Montgomerie had taken the early lead after picking up shots at the first, third and fifth holes before an eagle at the eighth moved the Scot to five-under.

A bogey five at the eighth dropped him back but the 48-year-old regained the shot at the 17th when he drained a 10-foot putt. However, a wayward drive at the last led to a three-putt from off the green as Montgomerie finished with a bogey to sign for a 67.

He joined South African Retief Goosen, Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Welshman Jamie Donaldson on four under par, while Padraig Harrington carded a 69 to finish two-under.

Phil Mickelson made an indifferent start, though, with an opening 71 on the Tanjong course, the American mixing four birdies with two bogeys and a double-bogey six at the 11th.