The publicity posters plastered all over Shanghai for the WGC-HSBC Champions portray Rickie Fowler as a superhero "Eagle Eye", and the US Ryder Cup star lived up to his billing Thursday. Sporting a new mohawk haircut under his trademark broad-peaked cap, the 27-year-old US Ryder Cup star proved a cut above all but one player as he fired a blemish-free seven-under-par 65 to lie one shot off the lead at Sheshan International Golf Club. Sweden's Rikard Karlberg leads on eight-under after a damp first round of the $9.5 million event dubbed "Asia's Major", where Rory McIlroy's putter proved as cool as the conditions. The FedEx Cup champion and world No. 3 carded a steady one-under 71 with just two birdies and a solitary bogey. "I feel I hit the ball well," said McIlroy, who was solid from tee to green but just could not hole a putt of any length. McIlroy wasn't alone among the favorites to struggle. World No. 2 and US Open champion Dustin Johnson toiled to a two-over 74, as did Masters champion Danny Willett. US PGA Champion Jimmy Walker had a day to forget with a six-over 78. Fowler was playing with Russell Knox (66) and Paul Casey (65) in a three-ball that ripped round Sheshan with a combined score of 18-under par. Meanwhile Karlberg, a former Asian Tour rookie of the year, showed no nerves in his first WGC event appearance as he galloped away from a field containing 40 of the world's top 50 players. Yang leads LPGA Malaysia Amy Yang took the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia lead, and Michelle Wie had her best score in more than a year. Lydia Ko had to fight to get back to even par in her first event since firing her caddie. Yang shot an 8-under 63 Thursday in hot and humid conditions for a two-stroke lead over American Marina Alex. The 27-year-old South Korean player birdied all four par-3 holes at TPC Kuala Lumpur. Wie opened with a 66, breaking 70 for only the fourth time in 68 rounds this year. Winless in 57 tournaments since the 2014 US Women's Open, she's coming off a season-best 10th-place tie last week in China in the Blue Bay LPGA. The top-ranked Ko birdied the par-5 18th for a 71. She had a double bogey on the par-4 second. The 19-year-old New Zealander fired Jason Hamilton, the Australian who caddied for her since late 2014, and is using Malaysia's Sargunan Suntharaj this week. Hamilton shifted to Ha Na Jang and helped the South Korean player open with a 69. China's Shanshan Feng, the 2014 winner, was at 66 along with Wie, Norway's Suzann Pettersen, American Mo Martin, Spain's Azahara Munoz and South Korea's Jenny Shin. Second-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn, grouped with Ko and fifth-ranked Brooke Henderson, had a 68. Stacy Lewis shot a 70 in her first event since mid-September. Winless in 60 starts since June 2014, the 11-time tour champion had a triple bogey on the par-4 11th. She has 11 runner-up finishes during the drought. Henderson also had a 70. Defending champion Jessica Korda shot 71. She was second in China. — Agencies
