Stars struggle in Singapore

Harrington: Enthusiastic

Leaderboard:
-4 Lam Chih Bing (Sin) (18)
-3 M Both (Aus) (18)
-3 E Els (SA) (14)
-3 O Wilson (Eng) (12)
-3 D Singh (Ind) (11)

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The big names failed to sparkle on a rain-hit opening day of the Barclays Singapore Open as local player Lam Chih Bing led the way.

Lam fired a four-under-par 67 at the Sentosa Golf Club despite having to wait more than two hours midway through his round for a lightning storm.

Australia's Marcus Both is in second place in the clubhouse after firing a three-under 68 that featured four birdies and a lone bogey, with Austria's Markus Brier, Korea's Charlie Wi and China's Zhang Lian-wei a further shot back on two under.

But Padraig Harrington is back in the pack after shooting a round of 72 with Phil Mickelson and Darren Clarke a shot further back, while two-time champion Adam Scott had a 76 that included seven bogeys.

"It certainly had the potential to be better but it is a 72 and I am encouraged by the way I hit it," said Harrington, who had three birdies and four bogeys.

"I feel good. I am enthusiastic about playing and keen to get out there. I played nicely out there today and that is encouraging for the next couple of days.

Terrible start

"I do need to score a little better but I need to be a little patient when it comes to that."

Mickelson endured a terrible start, carding three dropped shots in his first four holes, so was not unhappy with his two over par score.

"I know two over par does not sound good but I will actually take it. I got off to a terrible start and I was three over early," said the American.

"This is the worst chipping round I have had in years that I can remember. I hit five or six of the worst chips I have hit for a long time.

"I do not feel I shot myself out of the tournament by any means and a good round tomorrow will get me right back in it.

"Anything in the sixties will put me right back in it. I do not think anybody is going to go too far under par here."

Of those still out on the course when play was suspended, Oliver Wilson is three under through 12 holes as he bids to put the disappointment of last week's play-off defeat to Sergio Garcia behind him.

Ernie Els is on the same score through 14 holes while Englishman Simon Dyson, who has a solid record in the Far East, is one under par with four holes to play.