The BMW Asian Open saw a jam packed leaderboard at the conclusion of round one, with no less than seven players – including World Number Three and tournament favourite Ernie Els of South Africa – sharing first place after carding opening rounds of five under par 67 at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club, in China’s bustling financial centre of Shanghai.
Els shares the first round lead with Australia’s Larry Austin, the French duo of Raphaël Jacquelin and Jean Van de Velde, Ireland’s Peter Lawrie, New Zealand’s Eddie Lee and Simon Wakefield of England.
European Tour Order of Merit holder Els stormed to the turn in four under 32, but saw his excellent start affected by sweltering conditions, that sapped his birdie charge and allowed him to pick up just one more shot on the back nine.
The 35 year old was, however, pleased with his first round total and explained that he is striking the ball exceptionally well after making some adjustments to his game.
“It was very warm out there and that took its toll, but I had a good start and quite a few more chances on the back nine,” said Els. “Overall, I am happy with my first round and it puts me in a good position.
“The ball just feels right coming off the club face and it goes in the right direction. You can’t start pushing it too much in the first round, but I am looking forward to the rest of the week now.”
Lee flourished in the steaming hot conditions at Tomson Shanghai Pudong GC, notching a birdie at the first hole and eagle at the ninth, before a back nine of two-under saw him safely into the clubhouse in a share of the lead.
“I am really, really happy with how I am hitting it,” said Lee. “I have been trying to fix my swing since late last year, but I just kept hitting it worse. Three or four weeks ago I just said: ‘That’s enough’ and went back to my own swing.
“I have hit the ball exceptionally well the last three tournaments, but did not score as well as I would have liked. However, you know a good round is going to come if you just stick at it and today I played very nicely.”
Van de Velde was particularly pleased to be in joint pole position, the former Ryder Cup player having endured a torrid time with injury over the last couple of seasons – with a particular leg problem forcing him to miss most of the second part of the 2004 season.
However the 38 year old was back to something like his former best in Shanghai, carding four birdies and an eagle at the 568 yard 13th – where he holed a monstrous 45 foot putt – to more than compensate for his solitary dropped shot of the day at the 12th where he three putted from a similar distance.
With his medical exemption category having expired, Van de Velde is having to rely on invites for his starts on Tour this year and the likeable Frenchman admitted that, so far, his strike rate had been pretty good.
“I am doing not too badly,” he said. “I have realised that I must not have made any enemies along the way so that is pretty good. I really truly appreciate the people helping me and showing me their support.
“I don’t feel comfortable asking for favours but unfortunately that is where I am right now. I said I was going to enter the Tour School (in 2004) but I could barely walk down the bakery at that time last year, so I couldn’t go there and therefore I didn’t earn my way back in (to the Tour).
“So sadly I have to beg! Well, ask anyway and so far so good. Luckily I have had some good responses so if I start shooting some good scores as well and try to get the feel back then it is up to me from here until the end of the season to try and work my way back in there.”
His fellow countryman Jacquelin looked in danger of shooting an incredibly low number – although it would not have counted due to the preferred lies in operation – when he covered his first nine holes, from the tenth to the 18th, in six under par.
Sadly for the 30 year old, the momentum dried up on his inward half and a late three putt bogey at the eighth hole ruled out his chances of the outright lead. However, in his quest for his maiden Tour victory, he admitted he was pleased with his start.
“I put the ball in play which is what you have to do around here and I put a lot of iron shots very close to the pin and I made two long putts as well,” he said. “But on my back nine I wasn’t so good with the driver and that is the key to this course.
“I am pretty used to being in contention so I am pretty calm. I am not waiting for the win and if it happens, it happens. I have had a good start this week but there are still three more rounds to play and in this course with these conditions, anything can happen. I will just wait and play my game.”
Another player looking for his maiden Tour win is Lawrie and he continued to show promise in that area following his third place finish in the Jazztel Open de España en Andalucia two weeks ago.
Like Jacquelin, Lawrie had seven birdies and two dropped shots in his opening effort, his seven birdie putts ranging in length from a tap in at the first hole after a stunning approach to a 20 foot curling effort at the 15th.
“I have been playing nicely and I have been waiting for a few putts to drop and I got out of the blocks early today by holing three or four 15 footers and that is what has been missing in my game really,” he said.
Asian Tour player Austin celebrated his first full year of competition on the Asian circuit with a solid showing, not shedding a single shot to par in his opening round, just like Wakefield, who put together three birdies and an eagle to post his own five under round of 67.