subject: Westwood starts well in Shanghai [print this page] Westwood starts well in Shanghai Westwood starts well in Shanghai
Westwood starts well in Shanghai
Lee Westwood has taken the initiative at the WGC-HSBC Champions event as he battles to keep his world (TaylorMade R7 CGB Max Irons) number one status for longer than a week.
Westwood took Tiger Woods' top spot on Monday and the American will look to regain it in Shanghai, while Martin Kaymer and Phil Mickelson are also in with a shout (TaylorMade Burner Irons).
Francesco Molinari hit a superb 65 to lead, but Westwood showed no signs of his troublesome calf problem as he dropped just a single shot to finish with a six-under 66.
The 37-year-old, playing for the first time in three weeks, was in superb form as he dominated some of the toughest holes (TaylorMade R9 TP Irons)at Sheshan International. But a clump of mud on his ball as he approached the seventh resulted in his only bogey of the round.
"I just went out there with a pretty clear mind. I was a little rusty in places with my scoring, but I putted nicely," said the Englishman.
"All in all, I think I probably deserved about a 66. I don't think I need to reinforce why I'm number one in the world (TaylorMade Burner SuperLaunch Irons). I think you get there as a result of having good performances.
"But it's nice to go out there and show everybody that there is a particular reason why I got to that stage."
Woods needs a win in China (TaylorMade RAC Satin TP Wedge) to retain his place atop the rankings, and he started well with a opening round of 68.
"I hit a lot of good golf shots," said the 34-year-old. "I felt like I was able to control my distance well coming into the greens, and also putted really well."
Fit again Mickelson and Kaymer, the other players who could be number one next week, finished on three-under and level par respectively.
