Yuta Ikeda recovered from a poor start in fine style to take the early lead at the World Golf Championships - HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
Ikeda bogeyed his opening two holes - the tenth and 11th - at Sheshan International GC but bounced back with a birdie and then an eagle two at the par four 13th before picking up another shot at the 16th to reach the turn in 34.
Three consecutive birdies from the first then put Ikeda in the lead at five under par, one stroke ahead of new World Number One Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson.
Westwood deposed Tiger Woods on Monday and demonstrated his new status will not hang heavy on his shoulders as birdies at the 13th, 15th and 16th sent him in the right direction.
He had a chance for another birdie at the par five 18th but an eight-foot putt lipped out. However, a fourth birdie of the day at the first narrowed the gap behind Ikeda.
Stenson, meanwhile, collected four birdies in his opening nine holes to reach the turn four-under while a group of eight players were tied on three under par including Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen, Padraig Harrington and Retief Goosen.
Woods was well placed at one under par thanks to a birdie at the second after playing his first nine holes in level par, while defending champion Phil Mickelson made a steady start to his first round but a three-putt bogey at the first - the American's 11th hole - left him level par.
