Garcia claims Shanghai lead
Sergio Garcia has a slender one stroke lead after the opening round of the BMW Masters in Shanghai on Thursday.
The Spaniard fired an eight-under-par 64 at Lake Malaren Golf Club in China, enough to lead Byeong Hun An and Victor Dubuisson by one shot.
Garcia, who started on the tenth, took advantage of the soft greens and got off to a flyer with four birdies in his opening five holes, including a sumptuous two in the par three 12th.
While a bogey on the par three 17th set him back, Garcia played a flawless front nine, carding five more birdies on his way up to the top of the leaderboard.
"It was nice…I obviously played nicely," quipped the world number 11 on europeantour.com.
"Conditions were quite good, not much wind. A little bit of a drizzle but other than that it was good.
"The course is nice, I drove the ball very well and that gave me a lot of opportunities to hit some good iron shots. It was a nice round.
"I had a couple of nice birdies – three birdies in the first four on my front nine and then another three or four birdies on the first four or five on the back nine. It's the kind of round that you are looking for."
Behind the top three are Ross Fisher and Lucas Bjerregaard, tied for fourth on four under while Justin Rose, Paul Casey – who holed out from 150 yard for an eagle on the 14th – and veteran Thongchai Jaidee are all three strokes behind on five under.
Danny Willett, who is second on the Race to Dubai rankings behind this weeks' absentee Rory McIlroy, struggled to an opening round of 72.
Latest
-
NewsLaurie Canter aiming to bounce back from Italian Open disappointment in Cyprus
Canter missed out on victory last week after a closing 72 at the Italian Open.
-
NewsBig hitters could have the drive to master Augusta next month
Bryson DeChambeau could be one of the players who can overpower the iconic course.
-
NewsRory McIlroy determined to boost Masters chances by cutting out mistakes
The Northern Irishman has gone six years without adding to his four major titles.
-
NewsRoss McGowan ends long wait with win at Italian Open
The Englishman had just one European Tour top 10 in four seasons when he arrived at Chervo Golf Club.
-
NewsBryson DeChambeau Claims 400-yard Carry
With the remainder of the famous golfers doing their best to prepare for the Zozo Championship, Bryson DeChambeau has something else in mind
-
NewsTyrell Hatton: It’s much ado about a hoodie
Tyrell Hatton his happy to be turning heads with his hoodie, which has made unexpected waves.
-
NewsRory McIlroy acknowledges dry spell ahead of Zozo Championship
Rory McIlroy sees this weeks’ Zozo Championship as an opportunity to end his win drought and gain some confidence.
-
NewsTiger Woods feeling in form as he returns to Sherwood in build-up to Masters
The 44-year-old is happy with his game as Masters season begins in earnest.
-
NewsJason Kokrak: I couldn’t be happier
Jason Kokrak was beaming from ear to ear having finally earned his maiden PGA Tour title on Sunday.
-
NewsSpain’s Adrian Otaegui finishes with a flourish to win Scottish Championship
The Spaniard now has a professional victory in three different formats of the game.