Karlberg shades stellar Shanghai field to grab lead
Print Edition
UNHERALDED Swede Rikard Karlberg shot a first-round 8-under-par 64 to outshine a stellar field at the WGC-HSBC Champions yesterday, finishing a shot ahead of Rickie Fowler at a wet Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai.
The 29-year-old, playing in the tournament for the first time, picked up shots on his first four holes and added five more birdies before finally marking a bogey on his card after finding a bunker with his drive at the 18th.
“It was just one of those days where it was a walk in the park. I committed to a lot of shots and hit them perfectly, just as I wanted,” Karlberg said.
“I bombed my drives, I bombed my shots to the green and I stayed aggressive with my putts, even when the greens were getting a bit bumpy at the end of the day.”
Fowler hit seven birdies in a flawless 65 to stand a stroke ahead of American compatriot Daniel Berger, reigning champion Russell Knox of Scotland and in-form Japanese Hideki Matsuyama, who all carded 66.
“It’s always nice to start with 7-under-par, I’m pleased with that,” the 27-year-old Ryder Cup star said. “I knew with the soft conditions they were going to try to tuck some pins. It was going to be very scoreable if you drove it in the fairways and I was able to do that.
“I played very well tee-to-green and that made things a lot easier from there. It was a stress-free, simple round.”
England’s Paul Casey joined American Bill Haas and Francesco Molinari of Italy at 67. Nineteen players in the 78-man field broke 70.
US Open champion Dustin Johnson of the United States picked up a double bogey at the par-4 16th to slump to a 2-over 74, while the man immediately behind him in the rankings, world No. 3 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, dropped a shot at the last for a 1-under 71.
Karlberg’s better known compatriot, British Open champion Henrik Stenson, will start today’s second round five shots off the pace after mixing five birdies and two bogeys in his 69.
McIlroy and Johnson weren’t alone among the favorites to struggle. Masters champion Danny Willett of England also had a 74 while US PGA Champion Jimmy Walker had a day to forget with a 6-over 78.
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