Li delights home crowd and takes lead in Shanghai

SHANGHAI (AP) — Li Haotong longer feels pressure of playing before a home crowd. He enjoyed just about every minute Thursday, and he gave m plenty to cheer with an 8-under 64 for a one-shot le in HSBC Champions.

Li opened with two birdies, finished back nine with two birdie and after his lone mistake on par-4 first hole at Sheshan International, he responded with a 4-iron that set up eagle and led to loudest cheer of a calm afteron. “Obviously, it would be great joy for Chinese golfers and Chinese golf fans to have a Chinese player winning a WGC-HSBC Champions here in China,” Li said. “But for next three days, anything could happen.” He was one shot ahe of Victor Perez of France.

Among those who shots behind were defending champion Xander Schauffele and am Scott, who both stumbled at end. Scott hit a thin shot out of a fairway bunker on . 9 into water right of green and he h to get up-and-down to salv bogey for his 66. Schauffele, sick most of week and still hoarse, h a wedge to par-5 eighth and stayed on upper shelf, leing to a three-putt bogey. Sungjae Im and Matt Fitzpatrick also were at 66.

Rory McIlroy h three bogeys on back nine and was going where at even par until he ran off four straight birdies on front and got in mix quick with a 67. “ last few tournaments I’ve played, I’ve h a b opening round and n been trying to play catch up,” McIlroy said. “At least w, I’m right in thick of things from start, which is a better place to be.” HSBC Champions is final event for Tiger Woods and Ernie Els make ir wild-card picks for Presidents Cup, and Im certainly didn’t hurt his chances with ar good start.

Neir did Corey Conners of Cana, who was near top of leerboard for most of day. He finished with a bogey for a 67. Even so, Canian is coming off solid weeks in South Korea and Japan, and he hopes ar good one in China is eugh to get attention of Els for International team that goes to Royal Melbourne in December. “It’s been on my mind,” Conners said. “I want to make it as difficult as possible for him t to think of me.”

Phil Mickelson, in danger of falling out of top 50 for first time in nearly 26 years, opened with a 71 and was in middle of pack. Sheshan International is in prime condition with thick rough and firm fairways and greens. It’s a stronger test than in recent years, though calm conditions allowed for so many low scores. Nearly one-third of field broke 70. “ wind today is giving a false idea of how tough course is,” Scott said.

It was plenty tough for Hideki Matsuyama, who won here in 2016 and is coming off a runner-up finish to Tiger Woods last week in Zozo Championship in Japan. He mand only two birdies, finished with a double bogey and shot 75, ending a streak of six straight rounds in 60s. Li didn’t feel as though he as in great form coming into this World Golf Championship, but his comfort level — on course and in front of fans — was evident.

He practically grew up with HSBC Champions, from participating in its successful junior program to having a chance to win as a 20-year-old in 2015. He thought tournament was too big for him to win back n. That’s t case any more for Li, who alrey has two European Tour victories and will be playing in Presidents Cup for first time. “It’s always good to have a feeling that you kw that you are leing, especially in first two days,” Li said. “But what I only want right w is to have a shot at title on final nine holes Sunday.”