Intro:

Graeme McDowell leads by five strokes after the first round of the HSBC Champions

Script:

In the 10th year of the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament, the golf course was tougher than ever with ankle-deep rough and fairways that are not nearly as wide.

Graeme McDowell likes a tough golf course, and Sheshan International was perfect for him. He opened with seven birdies in 12 holes and then hung on for a 5-under 67 that gave him a two-shot lead after one round.

Rickie Fowler also got off to a fast start before he settled down for a 69, joining a group that included U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer, Brandt Snedeker, Tim Clark, Chris Kirk and Tommy Fleetwood.

There was a large group at 70 that featured Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson.

Only 27 players in the 78-man field broke par, compared with 37 players under par on the first day last year when the winning score was 24-under 264.

Brandt Snedeker did a good job keeping the ball in play. He had high expectations for the week. He withdrew from the Bridgestone Open when he felt something wrong with his stomach, flew home to Tennessee during the week of Malaysia to get it checked out, then flew back to Asia for the final World Golf Championship of the year.