Colin Montgomerie has a 73 in China

FASTH AND STADLER SET HOT PACE WITH
64s IN HSBC CHAMPIONS' TOURNAMENT

Swedish sensation Niclas Fasth and American stalwart Kevin Stadler fired matching eight under-par 64s for the joint opening round lead at the HSBC Champions tournament today in China.
Fasth, 35, and Stadler, with two international titles under his belt, were firmly at the top of the leaderboard with a three-stroke lead over Fijian ace Vijay Singh who carded a 67 at the Sheshan International Golf Club.
Star attraction Phil Mickelson of United States shot a 68 in tied fourth position, four strokes off the pace in the US$5 million event.
Korea’s Choi Kyung-ju, with two wins on the US PGA Tour this year, Argentinean Angel Cabrera, Irishman Padraig Harrington, South Africans Andrew McLardy and Richard Sterne and English duo of Paul Casey and Ross Fisher shot similar scores also in a tie for fourth place.
China’s top golfer Liang Wen-chong was the highest ranked local talent in joint 12th place after a 69 alongside big-hitting Australian Scott Hend, Filipino veteran Frankie Minoza, Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat, Retief Goosen of South Africa, England’s Steve Webster, Breff Rumford of Australia and compatriot Scott Sterling, Argentinean Andres Romero and Austrian Marcus Brier.
With a birdie on the first and and an eagle at the par-5 second hole, Fasth got off on the right note in the early stages of his round.
“I was playing well and putting well. It's a great start to the tournament,” said Fasth, who rallied on with six birdies against a lone bogey.
“I was hitting perfect shots, and to make the birdies and eagles in this case, when I do hit good shots, it really sets me off on the right foot. I really just kept playing well. I've been more settled this year, in practice and in playing, more relaxed, really. It obviously makes it a little easier to play more stable golf,” added the co-leader.
Stadler, with four wins on the Nationwide Tour, is competing in his second HSBC Champions as he enjoyed a comfortable day out on course.
“I got off to a very good start and birdied the first three. I never really was in the rough, I’m so happy to say that, and I drove it pretty well. I really enjoy the golf course. I feel very comfortable on it, and you know, it was nice to have played it once before last year,” said Stadler, who finished joint 23rd last year.
Singh, ranked third on the US PGA Tour money list, chalked up six birdies against a lone bogey in lone third place.
“I played really well today, not only the last few holes. I left a lot of short ones out there. But I had made a good putt on the last hole, that was the key one. I wanted to finish with a birdie on the last, so that was nice,” said Singh, who is eager to compete in more events in Asia.
“We need a lot more events like this in Asia where you can have Asian players feeling more and more comfortable playing with a field like this. But, you know, I'd like to pull it off and give the Asian world a little boost,” added the Fijian stalwart.
Making his maiden appearance at the HSBC Champions, world number two Mickelson, with 32 wins on the US PGA Tour, felt right at home at the Sheshan International Golf Club firing five birdies against a lone bogey.
“I really enjoy the golf course. It's a fun challenge and it's in incredible shape. I hit some good shots to get off to a good start and I was 3‑under through four and just played steady there after. Hit some good shots, didn't quite make as many birdies, but played a good, solid round for a good start,” said Mickelson.
Choi was pleased with his round after a 68 with a similar sentiment shared by China’s Liang who was paired with Mickelson and Casey.
“Mickelson and Casey are both nice people with good golf skills. It’s been a nice experience playing with them, and I felt I was able to focus on my game today. I was a bit nervous in the beginning but then I started to focus. I hope to firstly make the cut this week and we’ll see how it goes from there,” said Liang.

FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 72
64 Kevin Stadler (USA), Niclas Fasth (SWE)
67 Vijay Singh (FIJ)
68 Padraig Harrington (IRL), K J Choi (KOR), Angel Cabrera (ARG), Andrew McLardy (RSA), Paul Casey (ENG), Phil Mickelson (USA), Richard Sterne (RSA)
Ross Fisher (ENG)
69 Steve Webster (ENG), Retief Goosen (RSA), Brett Rumford (AUS), Frankie Minoza (PHI), Scott Sterling (AUS), Markus Brier (AUT), Liang Wen-chong (CHN), Andres Romero (ARG), Scott Hend (AUS), Chapchai Nirat (THA)
70 Lee Westwood (ENG), Ian Poulter (ENG), Zhang Lian-wei (CHN), Jyoti Randhawa (IND), Daniel Vancsik (ARG), Darren Fichardt (RSA), Gaurav Ghei (IND), Jose Manuel Lara (ESP), Simon Yates (SCO), Henrik Stenson (SWE), Anders Hansen (DEN)
Other scores included:
73 Colin Montgomerie (Sco), Sergio Garcia (Spa).
75 Marc Warren (Sco), Ernie Els (SAf)