South Africa, Sweden and Argentina fired seven-under par 64s on Thursday to share the lead after the opening four-ball round of the US$4 million World Golf Championships World Cup.
South Africans Rory Sabbatini and Richard Sterne enjoyed a bogey-free day despite blustery conditions, opening and closing the back nine with birdies while taking birdies at three of four holes starting at the 12th.
The South American duo of Angel Cabrera and Andres Romero began with a bogey but followed with back-to-back birdies and made five birdies in a row starting at the 12th to grab a share of the lead.
PHOTO: AP
Swedes Carl Pettersson and Henrik Stenson, in the penultimate group, opened with a par but birdied the other four odd-numbered holes on the front side and added two more on the back before three concluding pars to equal the leaders.
Defending champions Bradley Dredge and Stephen Dodd of Wales and Germany, represented by two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer and Marcel Siem, were next on 65.
The Welshmen made five birdies on the front nine but each found the rough off the 10th tee and the duo managed only one back-nine birdie.
Luke Donald and David Howell of England and South Koreans SK Ho and Charlie Wi matched the US tandem of J.J. Henry and Stewart Cink on 66 entering yesterday's foursomes in the 72-hole event.
With Caribbean rain and wind battering players most of the day, most were satisfied with whatever they could manage.
"It was the worst conditions I have ever played in for about 30 minutes," Cink said.
"It was really tough in stages," Ireland's Paul McGinley said. "There was such a shower on the fifth hole. Ireland at its worst never had a shower like that."
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