Former US Open Champion Graeme McDowell was joined by American Ryder Cup star Nick Watney and Australian Adam Scott in the early lead at the World Golf championships-HSBC Champions.
Northern Irishman McDowell, starting on the back nine, carded a hattrick of gains from the 12th to be three under par at Sheshan International in Shanghai.
That was the same mark as 30 year old Watney, who after birdies at the tenth and 11th picked up another shot at the 15th.
Scott, winner of the last WGC event when he claimed the Bridgestone Invitational, had birdies at the 12th, 13th and 15th.
The leading trio were one ahead of a group of nine players all tied on two under par.
Dane Anders Hansen, Masters Tournament winner Charl Schwartzel, US PGA Champion Keegan Bradley, World Number Two Lee Westwood, big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, South Africans Keith Horne and Jbe Kruger, Australian pair Adam Bland and Geoff Ogilvy and Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas all made solid starts to their challenge.
