Asian teams endure slow start in World Cup

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DONGGUAN, China -- Asia's challenge at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup endured a frustrating start with swirling winds blowing them off course in the first round on Thursday.

Japan's Ryuji Imada and Toru Taniguchi emerged as the leading nation from the region after a 6-under-par 66 in the opening fourball session left them four shots behind pacesetter Germany at Mission Hills Golf Club.

Indian duo Jyoti Randhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh, who has secured the Asian Tour's Order of Merit title this season, combined for a 67 and are tied for 12th place alongside the Philippines, represented by Angelo Que and Mars Pucay.

Lin Wen-tang, winner of last week's UBS Hong Kong Open, and veteran Lu Wen-teh carded a 68, which was matched by Korea's Bae Sang-moon and Kim Kyung-tae. Mewanwhile, China's Liang Wen-chong and Zhang Lian-wei both found water on the last hole for a double bogey and signed for a disappointing 69.

"It was tough to swallow. I think we could have done better than that. We'll take it as we're not badly placed," said Singh, winner of three tournaments in Asia, Japan and Europe this year.

Randhawa, Asia's top-ranked player in 2002, got the Indians going with a birdie on the third hole but with gusty winds throwing teams off balance, they had to wait until the ninth for their second birdie of the round in the better ball format.

Singh knocked in his first of the day on No. 9 and went on to make two other birdies before Randhawa wrapped up the day with his second birdie of the day on 15.

"We didn't combine as well as we could have. Five under is not a great score but being bogey free was good," said Randhawa. "We made birdies on the same holes. If we made birdies on different holes, that would have been great. We got over aggressive today. We tried to chip in and tried to make putts from 30 feet, which you can't do."

Que made four birdies in his Omega Mission Hills World Cup debut as the Philippines ended the opening day of the 28-nation competition in a share of 12th place.

"We were hitting good shots but none of our putts were going in. We just stayed patient," said Que, the reigning Philippine Open champion.

"The wind changed a lot on us. Mars was the first to hit amongst the four of us and it changed like about three to four times when I went to tee it up. It was tough to judge."

Zhang and Liang made costly mistakes on the last hole. Zhang, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour, drove it into the water on what is rated as the toughest hole at Mission Hills, while Liang sent his approach into the drink as well.

"It was an unbelievable mistake by the both of us. There are three days to go. We're not too worried. I'm confident we can come back in the foursomes tomorrow. We should be able to improve on our score. But to see Germany finish on 10 under in the wind is amazing. It's a nice score," said Zhang.

Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng struggled to a 69, dropping two bogeys along the way to trail by seven shots.

Alex Cejka hailed partner Martin Kaymer after Germany powered into a one-shot lead with an outstanding 62. The talented Kaymer had six birdies and an eagle, while Cejka contributed two birdies to lead Australia's Richard Green and Brendan Jones, who combined effectively for a 63.

The United States team of Brandt Snedeker and Ben Curtis dovetailed their way to a 64, which was matched by playing partners Canada, represented by Wes Heffernan and Graham Delaet, and Spanish duo Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal. Defending champion Scotland, with Colin Montgomerie and Alastair Forsyth, shot a 68.

Cejka, playing in his ninth World Cup, paid tribute to the 23-year-old Kaymer, who is rated as one of the rising stars in world golf. "He played really solid golf. He made a lot of birdies, an eagle, and I just tried to contribute a couple of times," said Cejka, who is recovering from an injury-filled season.

"We are delighted to be here. So far, leading, I think it's a great start for Germany."

Kaymer won twice this year to rise to 26th in the world rankings and was thrilled to give themselves a chance of challenging for a first World Cup title. Two years ago, Germany won the World Cup with Bernhard Langer and Marcel Siem.

"It is a very good score because it was windy out there. It was a little bit tougher than last year, but I think we can be happy," said Kaymer, whose round included a stunning 75-foot eagle conversation on the seventh hole.