American Nick Watney’s eight under par 64 gave him the clubhouse lead during the first round of the World Golf Champions – HSBC Champions at Sheshan Golf Club.
The World Number 32 stormed round with seven birdies, an eagle and a solitary dropped shot.
Watney, winner of February's Buick Invitational on the US PGA Tour, stormed out of the blocks with back to back birdies before leaping up the early leaderboard with an eagle at the par five 14th after starting on the back nine.
A further birdie a hole later pushed Watney to five under par through seven and he picked up shots on four consecutive holes before a bogey at the ninth, his last.
That was two shots better than compatriot Ryan Moore and Germany’s Martin Kaymer, who was looking to overtake Lee Westwood at the top of The Race to Dubai.
Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang and American Anthony Kim – runner-up at last week’s Volvo World Match Play Championship – were five under after opening with 67s.
On the course, England’s Nick Dougherty moved alongside Moore and Kaymer with four holes left to play, and World Number One Tiger Woods was lurking dangerously on five under with one remaining.
