Reuters - Nick Dougherty of England, Scotland’s Paul Lawrie and Australian Peter O’Malley fired eight under par 64s to lead Tiger Woods by a stroke after the first round of the HSBC Champions tournament at Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai, China.
World Number One Woods looked poised to make it a four way tie at the top until he found a sand trap and made bogey on his final hole to drop to a four way share for fourth at the $5 million event in Shanghai.
O'Malley made seven birdies in a row from 16 while Dougherty capped a blemish free round with an eagle on the 18th to tie his best tournament score.
Former Open Champion Lawrie, who only received an invitation for the tournament last week, birdied the 18th hole despite a violent cloudburst to send the Scot into a tie for the lead.
"It was nice obviously to get the invite. I've been playing better recently, so it was justified I think," he said.
"Forty-eighth on the Order of Merit is not what I am looking for, but we're getting there." It was an improvement of nearly 100 places on his position last year.
Dougherty won his first European Tour title in Singapore in January and the Nick Faldo protégé sounded a warning to his idol Woods after his sizzling round in Shanghai.
"It would be a dream scenario to have a crack at him on Sunday," said the 23 year old. "It would be fantastic. I would love it. I idolise Tiger. He's everything I want to be."
Woods was joined on seven under by England’s David Howell, South Korean K.J. Choi and Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen.
Playing in his first official tournament in China, Woods carded ten birdies but was left shaking his head when his tee shot on the par four ninth -- his final hole -- plugged in a sand trap.
"I've never seen anything like it," said the ten time Major winner, who failed to save par after his bunker shot spun off the green. "It was unbelievable. I hit a three wood into the middle of the bunker and buried it. That's not something I'm used to seeing -- not off the tee.
"But ten birdies offsets three bogeys and I hit the ball really well. The cameras were a little bit of a distraction, but the people have been very supportive and very respectful.
"They're not used to seeing golf here, so we can understand it. They don't know when to take pictures and once they learn they will be better."
US Open champion Michael Campbell of New Zealand carded a 66 while world Number Two Vijay Singh of Fiji had a 67.
European Number One Colin Montgomerie suffered a frustrating start. Playing alongside Woods, the Scot knocked his second shot ‘stiff’ for a birdie at the tenth – his first – but made a number of mistakes in dropping back with a two over par 74.
