Malaysian Open: Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood share lead after opening round
Thursday 5 February 2015 14:02, UK
Defending champion Lee Westwood and major winner Graeme McDowell shared the clubhouse lead after the opening round of the Malaysian Open.
Westwood, who cruised to a seven-shot victory last year, hit seven birdies and one bogey to record a six-under-par round of 66.
Former US Open champion McDowell then matched that effort, also carding seven birdies on the par-72 layout, with both players' only blemish coming on the tricky par-four sixth hole.
Tommy Fleetwood is a shot back after a bogey-free five-under 67, tied for third with home favourite Danny Chia, who carded two early bogeys before a run of four consecutive birdies on his front nine.
“I just played really steady, solid and holed a few putts,” Fleetwood said. “I hit the ball really nice today which was good.
“My first rounds so far this year have been terrible, so to put a good first one feels really nice so hopefully I can move forward from here.”
In contention
European Tour Golf
Kang Sung-hoon looked set to trouble the leaders after moving to four under after 13 holes, with a birdie on the last leaving the South Korean one off the lead, while five birdies on the front nine from Richard Bland saw him recover from a slow start to end in a group of four players a further shot back.
Stephen Gallacher, who finished third last week in the Dubai Desert Classic, fired three early birdies on his way to an opening 69, leaving him in a group including his Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley on three under.
Qatar Masters runner-up Marc Warren hit birdies on the last three holes to end the day two under, tied with Andy Sullivan and Nicolas Colsaerts, who struck three late bogeys in his opening-round 70.
Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, who won the season-opening event on the Champions Tour in Hawaii late last month, opened with a 72, level with reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, American David Lipsky.
Matthew Fitzpatrick looks in danger of missing the cut after a triple-bogey on the fifth left him five-over, with Eddie Pepperell a further two shots back following a bogey-filled round.
Early Race to Dubai leader Danny Willett struggled through 12 holes before retiring with a back injury, carding four bogeys during his incomplete three-over-par.
Watch day two of the Malaysian Open on Friday live from 5am on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf.
