Garcia aims to make most of last chance as Willett sets sights on overhauling McIlroy


Garcia, who is not playing the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai next week, has won 11 times on Tour but back-to-back sixth place finishes in the Open and European Masters are his best results of the campaign.
However, the 35-year-old Spaniard was 11th in the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai last week and continued that good form across the city at Lake Malaren with nine birdies and one bogey in an opening 64.
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Hide AdGarcia finished eight under par, one shot ahead of Ryder Cup team-mate Victor Dubuisson and BMW PGA Championship winner Byeong Hun An.
With Rory McIlroy not competing, his rivals in the ‘Race to Dubai’ have the chance to overtake the four-time major winner in the standings. Yorkshire’s Danny Willett just needs to finish 28th or better in the 78-man field, while Shane Lowry, Louis Oosthuizen and Justin Rose must finish second or better and Branden Grace requires a win.
Willett was two under with five to play but bogeyed the fifth after finding sand off the tee and three-putted the eighth to card a level-par 72. Fellow Yorkshireman Matt Fitzpatrick is four off the lead after a 68.