Aussies grab early advantage at World Cup

Australia laid down an early marker at the Golf World Cup, taking the clubhouse lead on 11 under par to lead the field by four strokes.

With the first day featuring a fourball format, Richard Green and Brendon Jones took full advantage to card a 61 at Mission Hills Resort on Hainan Island and head Denmark, who compiled a 65.

Four birdies over the front nine saw the Australians reach the turn in 32 before picking up the pace on the way back with eagles at the 12th and the 16th to go with three more birdies.

Danish duo Thorbjorn Oleson and Anders Hansen produced a bogey-free round, picking up three birdies on the front nine and four on the way back to lead the chasing pack.

USA, Netherlands, Spain, Colombia, Sweden and Thailand were all locked together on six under par while Irish pair Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell were five-under through nine holes following three birdies and an eagle.

Wales returned a 67 as Rhys Davies and Jaime Donaldson sank five birdies while Scotland were four-under through 10 holes.

England’s Justin Rose and Ian Poulter made a low-key start and sat two under par after 12 holes following a bogey at the 11th while defending champions Italy were one-under through eight holes.