SHANGHAI — So much for the notion that American golfers don’t travel well.
The first World Golf Championship in Asia opened Thursday to a leaderboard filled with Stars & Stripes, led by wide-eyed Nick Watney and his 8-under-par 64 that tied the course record at the HSBC Champions and including, as always, Tiger Woods.
Watney got more excitement than he expected when he went to Shanghai’s metropolis in a cab that weaved through six lanes of cars on a three-lane highway. He felt much safer at Sheshan International Golf Club, where he kept it down the middle and close to the flag. Watney made an eagle and ran off four straight birdies while building a two-shot lead.
“It was just one of those days where everything was feeling really good, so I wasn’t too jumpy,” Watney said. “If it was Saturday night, I don’t know how well I’d be sleeping. But just for Friday, I’m in a great position.”
Ryan Moore wasn’t about to pass up a trip to China when he qualified by winning his first PGA Tour event in August. With a new equipment deal in place, he shot a 6-under 66 to join Shane Lowry and Martin Kaymer, who is second in the Race to Dubai and facing a big week at this $7 million event.
Woods was the star attraction again, although it was demanding as ever. Standing composed over his opening tee shot, he flinched all the way through his swing and let the 3-wood drop at impact upon hearing the shutter of so many cameras, inside and outside the ropes.
“The guy in the grandstand basically did almost a photo sequence,” Woods said. The shot was so short, buried in deep rough right of the fairway, that caddie Steve Williams had to walk 40 yards to find the yardage on a sprinkler.
Ultra-sensitive when it comes to cameras, Woods handled this day better than most and chalked it up to a maturing golf crowd in China. More frustrating was not knowing where his ball was going throughout a gorgeous afternoon. Still, Woods took care of the par 5s and made enough putts to shoot a 67.
“It wasn’t my best ball-striking round today for sure, but I made some putts, which was nice, and just managed my game well,” he said.
