Louis Oosthuizen and Adam Scott both shot a 7-under 65 yesterday to share a one-shot lead after the opening round of the WGC Champions in Dongguan, Guangdong Province.

Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open winner, played a bogey-free round with seven birdies, while Scott finished his round with two birdies and an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole. Two-time champion Phil Mickelson was in a tie for third one shot back, along with Bubba Watson, Peter Hanson and Shane Lowry.

Hanson has been one of the top golfers on the European Tour this fall, capturing the KLM Open in the Netherlands in September and the Shanghai Masters last weekend for the biggest victory of his career. He is second on the European money list, within striking distance of leader Rory McIlroy. If the Swede wins the US$1.2 million paycheck at Mission Hills this weekend, he will overtake McIlroy with only four events left on the calendar.

Hanson and Watson played in the same group and matched each other birdie for birdie to stay atop the leaderboard for much of the day.

Mickelson was further off the pace before sinking a 25-foot putt for eagle on the same hole as Scott - the par-5 ninth - to finish off his round of 66.

Lowry, meanwhile, stuttered down the stretch. After making birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to take a two-stroke lead over the field, the Irishman had bogeys on his final two holes - missing near-identical 10-foot putts - to drop him back into a tie for third.

Dustin Johnson shot a 67 to sit two strokes off the lead with Thailand's Prom Meesawat. Defending champion Martin Kaymer was in a group of seven golfers tied for ninth at 4 under.

Scott, Oosthuizen share early lead in Dongguan