SHANGHAI — American Luke Guthrie left a quartet of former world number ones trailing in his wake with a blistering start to the BMW Masters here Thursday, firing a seven-under 65 to sit three shots clear of compatriot John Daly. The 23-year-old, who turned professional last year, had only 19 putts in his bogey-free round which was boosted by an eagle at the par-five 15th when he holed a flop shot from the bank by the green after chipping in for birdie on the previous hole. Daly, commonly known as ‘Wild Thing', made the most of his first tournament appearance since July's Greenbrier Classic on the PGA Tour. The 47-year-old fired a bogey-free round of 68 to sit alone in second at the high-caliber field event. Another American, Peter Uihlein, shot a 69 to sit in third, one ahead of a cast of more familiar European Tour names at two-under including former US Open champion Graeme McDowell. McDowell was joined at two-under by Englishman Paul Casey and Simon Dyson, Scot Craig Lee, Spain's Pablo Larrazabal, Gregory Bourday of France and Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee. Former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy was a further shot back after a four-birdie round of 71 left him in contention as he seeks his first tournament win of a turbulent year. The Northern Irish compatriots were playing with Race to Dubai money list leader Henrik Stenson, who shot a level par 72 to sit in a group tied for 14th alongside treble major champion Padraig Harrington and former world number one Lee Westwood. Moore leads in Malaysia Ryan Moore made light of a demanding 9,000 mile trip from Las Vegas to Kuala Lumpur to fire a first round nine-under 63 in the PGA Tour's CIMB Classic Thursday, while Phil Mickelson endured a frustrating day and wound up eight shots off the pace. American Moore leads former US PGA Champion Keegan Bradley (65) by two and Spain's Sergio Garcia (66) by three at the $7 million event at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. British Open champion Mickelson was fighting his swing throughout his round and finished with a one-under 71 to sit tied 21st. Mickelson's playing partner, Asian Tour order of merit leader Kiradech Aphibarnrat, showed the five-times major winner how it is done by firing a round of 65 to lead the charge of the 10 Asian Tour players in the field. It was a day to forget for big-hitting Bubba Watson, though, as the former Masters champion could only muster a six-over 78 to lie in 74th. Pettersen in early lead Defending champion Suzann Pettersen shot a 4-under 68 for a three-stroke lead after the first round of the Sunrise Championship Thursday as she tries to close the gap to Ingbee Park atop the LPGA rankings. Americans Alison Walshe and Irene Cho were tied for second with Karine Icher of France and Caroline Hedwall of Sweden. Yani Tseng, the 2011 Sunrise champion, only managed a disappointing 76, while Lexi Thompson of the US shot 74.— Agencies
