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USA lead World Cup

22/11/2007

USA lead the World Cup after Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum fired an 11-under-par 61 in the opening day at Mission Hills in Shenzhen, China.

The pair lead from defending champions Germany, whose duo Alex Cejka and Martin Kaymer carded a ten-under-par 62.

England, Wales and Scotland are in third place on nine-under-par. Ireland are five strokes off the lead on six-under-par.

The US team played brilliantly on Thanksgiving Day as they birdied holes five, seven and nine on the front nine, with a further four birdies on the back nine. Weekley and Slocum also hit an eagle each.

European Order of Merit winner Justin Rose partnered Ian Poulter for the English team and the pair carded a steady round - the highlight being two eagles from Poulter.

"I think we played steadily," said Rose. "We didn't make too many birdies or too many putts, but we made key putts.

"We didn't make any mistakes and didn't make any bogeys - which is obviously what kills you out there."

Scottish pair Colin Montgomerie and Marc Warren hit a combined total of nine birdies in their first round.

Meanwhile 2005 winners Wales finished with eight birdies and Bradley Dredge hit a monster 573-yard eagle on the ninth.