To show just how international the game of golf has become, a Spaniard and an Englishman tied for the lead in the first round of a tournament being held in China on Thursday.
Alvaro Quiros and Simon Dyson each fired a 5-under 67 to lead the field at the China Open in Shenzen.
It’s a closely knit field entering Friday’s second round, although a few golfers will still have to finish the first round, which was called on account of darkness.
Six players, including Australian Brett Rumford, the tournament’s defending champion shot 4-under 68s to sit a stroke back.
A further 12, including Ian Poulter, are two strokes back at 3-under.
Plenty of eyes are on Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, who shot a 1-under 71 in the first round. Currently ranked No. 3 in the world, Stenson entered the tournament with the chance to supplant Tiger Woods as No. 1 in the world with a victory.
Stenson did not practice for the tournament as he has been suffering from the flu.
Also shooting a 71 is 15-year-old Guan Tianlang, a Chinese national who made the cut at the Masters a year ago.
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