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Stadler, Fasth share lead in Shanghai

Kevin Stadler of the US tosses his ball as he waits to tee off on the ninth hole on the first day of the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai yesterday. Stadler scored an eight-under-par 64 for a joint course record and a share of the lead with Niclas Fasth of Sweden. PHOTO: AFP

Kevin Stadler of the US and Sweden's Niclas Fasth each shot 8-under 64s yesterday to share the first-round lead at the HSBC Champions tournament.

The pair were three shots ahead of Vijay Singh at Sheshan Golf Club, and four clear of a large group of players clumped together on 68, which included US player Phil Mickelson, British Open champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland and Englishman Paul Casey.

Stadler, who was in danger of losing his US tour card, finished tied for 15th place last weekend in the final event of the US season -- the Children's Miracle Network Classic in Orlando, Florida.

He wound up in the top 125 on the money list, which allowed him to keep his card -- barely. He was No. 124.

The relief showed yesterday.

"It was great to come here and play a worry-free tournament," Stadler said. "I haven't had many of them in the last month or two. "I was trying not to let it bother me, but it was pretty apparent I was a little on edge because I felt great today being through with all of that."

The son of Craig Stadler -- known as "The Walrus" -- Kevin Stadler is large like his dad and has a small goatee. But he's never picked up a similar nickname like, perhaps, "Baby Walrus."

"No, that doesn't work very well, thankfully," Stadler said. "I've avoided that for most of my life. I'd love to keep it that way."

Stadler had six birdies on the front nine -- three straight to open the round.

"Absolutely, it was a great start," he said.

He dropped one shot on the back nine, a bogey on No. 11 that came after his drive landed in a bunker. A bad lie forced him to chip out sideways, settling for "an easy five."

The 64s matched the course record, which was also recorded by Tiger Woods, Henrik Stenson and Michael Campbell.

Fasth also got off to a great start, dropping a 3.7m birdie putt on the first hole, then added an eagle-3 on No. 2, where he sank a 7.6m putt after landing a 5-wood to the back of the green.

"It was a perfect start for me," Fasth said. "To be 3-under after two holes, it's not every day you get that. And I just kept playing on."

Without Tiger Woods in the field -- he played here last year but failed to win -- most of the attention has turned to No. 2-ranked Phil Mickelson.

Mickelson birdied three of the first four holes and then played steady, mostly error-free golf.
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