Guthrie carries his Vegas form to Shanghai to lead Masters

Guthrie finished fifth in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas on Sunday after a closing 64 and carried on where he left off at Lake Malaren in Shanghai.

The 23-year-old, who only turned professional last year, carded birdies at the second, third and seventh to reach the turn in 33, before also picking up shots on the 13th and 14th and chipping in for an eagle on the par-five 15th.

After saving par on the final three holes, Guthrie signed for a flawless seven-under-par 65 to lead by three shots from former Open champion John Daly, with Peter Uihlein returning a 69 to ensure the only Americans in the field occupied the top three places.

“It was a great day,” said Guthrie, who was one of only 13 players to break par in the windy conditions. “It was one of the better rounds I’ve ever played. It’s playing tough out there, it’s hard to control the ball exactly where you want to leave it and when I did miss I gave myself a chance and I was able to short-game my way around.”

He added: “I was able to stay up on my 12-hour flight and crashed at about 9pm here on Tuesday night – that was about as quick as I could get here from Las Vegas – so I’m actually on decent Shanghai time right now.”

Daly’s score was as remarkable as his garish red, black and yellow trousers – which he described as “ketchup and mustard” – given that it was his first competitive round since July.

The 47-year-old underwent elbow surgery after pulling out of the Greenbrier Classic after three holes of his second round, but has returned to action a few weeks earlier than expected thanks to icing his arm and a diet of chocolate milk. “I’ve always been a quick healer. I don’t know why,” Daly said.

“He (his doctor) figured four months. I did everything he told me to do. I usually don’t listen to anybody.”

This week’s event is the first of four tournaments which make up the inaugural Final Series on the European Tour, with Sweden’s Henrik Stenson holding a lead of 425,573 euros (£362,660) over Graeme McDowell at the top of the Race to Dubai standings.

But with a first prize of 850,000 euros (£725,000) on offer this week and a total prize fund of almost £20m in the four events, the battle to become European No 1 in Dubai in mid-November is far from over.

Malton’s Simon Dyson is five shots back of the leader Guthrie after opening with a two-under-par 70.

Sheffield’s Danny Willett is two over par after a 74.