Richard Bland continued his recent excellent form to sit just one shot off the lead as the WGC-HSBC Champions got under way at Sheshan International Golf Club.
The Englishman was making his World Golf Championships debut in China in his 396th European Tour event as he enjoys a career year at the age of 43.
He currently sits 25th on the Race to Dubai after four top tens in his last six events and opened with three birdies to sit a shot behind Daniel Berger on a rainy morning in Shanghai.
American Berger had also got off to an excellent start from the tenth, picking up birdies on his opener, the 11th, 12th and 14th to sit four under after eight holes.
Bland was then in the group in second having played four holes with Swede Rikard Karlberg having matched him with three opening birdies.
American Bill Haas was also three under at the turn alongside countrymen JB Holmes, who had played seven holes, and Rickie Fowler who had completed one less.
Defending champion Russell Knox was then in a group of eight players at two under alongside Dutchman Joost Luiten and England's Chris Wood.
