Patrick Reed fires bogey-free 64 to lead WGC-HSBC Champions
Defending champion Justin Rose five off the lead; Rory McIlroy and world No 1 Brooks Koepka eight strokes back
By Ali Stafford
Last Updated: 26/10/18 9:43am
Patrick Reed fired a bogey-free 64 to open up a two-shot lead after the opening round of the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
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The Masters champion carded eight birdies in breezy conditions to set the clubhouse target at Sheshan International ahead of nearest challengers Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau.
Schauffele marked his 25th birthday with a blemish-free 66 and Finau got to six under by mixing seven birdies with a sole blemish, while five straight gains around the turn kept Matt Fitzpatrick within three of the lead.
"It felt really good," Reed said after his round. "If you can go out and shoot rounds like that in these kind of conditions, you know you're going to have confidence when the wind dies down and there are perfect condition out there."
Beginning on the back nine, Reed holed a 20-footer at the 11th and picked up another shot at the next before following a close-range gain at the 15th with a two-putt birdie at the driveable 16th.
Reaching the turn tied for the lead with Adam Scott, Reed pulled clear with three straight gains from the first and closed out his blemish-free card by converting a 20-foot birdie on his final hole.
A final-hole bogey leaves Tommy Fleetwood four back alongside Rafa Cabrera Bello, Billy Horschel, C.T Pan and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, with Ian Poulter and defending champion Justin Rose a further shot adrift in the group on three under.
Rory McIlroy battled back from a double-bogey at the 16th to post four birdies on his second nine and scramble a level-par 72, as playing partners Dustin Johnson and Francesco Molinari struggled to rounds of 74 and 76 respectively.
Watch the WGC-HSBC Champions throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Friday from 3am on Sky Sports Golf and 5am on Sky Sports Main Event.
