Westwood leads top spot challengers in Shanghai

Molinari carded seven birdies in his bogey-free effort at Sheshen International GC to head the leaderboard on seven under par but Westwood lies just one stroke back following an opening 66.

Eight of the world's top 10 golfers are in Shanghai to contest the WGC event but it was Molinari, a member of Europe's victorious Ryder Cup team, who emerged as the early leader.

Starting at the 10th, the 27-year-old made steady progress over his opening nine holes with three birdies to reach the turn in 33 but by the time he had confidently stroked in a putt at the sixth for a fourth consecutive birdie on the back nine, he had overhauled morning frontrunner Yuta Ikeda for the lead.

A long birdie putt on the seventh just slipped past the hole but he then needed a beautifully judged chip from the fringe on the ninth to save par and secure the first-round lead.

Meanwhile Westwood, who had brought Tiger Woods' 281-week reign to an end on Monday, demonstrated his new status will not hang heavy on the 37-year-old's shoulders as birdies at the 13th, 15th and 16th saw him quickly moving in the right direction.

He almost moved to four-under at the par-five 18th but an eight-footer lipped out and he reached the turn three-under for his round.

The Worksop golfer maintained his momentum on his back nine and birdied the first before planting his tee shot at the par-three sixth to within six inches of the flag for a two.

Westwood's only bogey of the day came at the next but he bounced back to drain a tricky putt on the ninth and finish with two consecutive birdies to end the day on six under par.

"It's nice to go out there and show everybody that there is a particular reason why I got to that stage. I think I did that today," said Westwood.

"The target was just to go out there and enjoy myself and see what happened. But I was pleased with the way I hit it despite not having played a lot."

However, he revealed he now has much more confidence in his body.

"My ankle's better, and my calf feels about 85 to 90 per cent there," Westwood added.

"As the round goes on, it starts to ache and I start to feel like I'm losing my control and power.

"But it's there. I've still got the power in it, something which I didn't have a few weeks back. I can still sort of mentally do that and keep control of my swing."

Ikeda, Henrik Stenson and Noh Seung-yul are tied for third on five under par after the trio all posted rounds of 67.

Ikeda set the pace in the morning, recovering from a poor start that saw him bogey his opening two holes with six birdies and an eagle. The Japanese golfer then missed a chance at the eighth to go seven-under and a bogey five at the ninth compounded his frustration.

Noh, on the other hand, produced a bogey-free effort while Stenson collected six birdies and one solitary bogey at the third.

Woods, meanwhile, will be heartened by an opening 68 that sees the former world number one nicely placed in a tie for sixth alongside Luke Donald and Pablo Martin.

Starting on the 10th, Woods played his front nine in even par but hit four birdies on the way back. Donald did not drop a shot as he sank four birdies while Martin picked up five birdies and one bogey.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson shot a 69 to lie in a group of nine players that also features Ross Fisher, Richie Ramsay and Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, but two bogeys in his final two holes soured what would have been an encouraging start for Padraig Harrington.

Having reached the turn in 34 courtesy of three birdies and one dropped shot, the Irishman made further headway at the second and sixth to move to four-under but a six-five finish pegged him back.