Graeme McDowell leads in Shanghai

Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell gave himself a two-shot cushion ahead of the field after the first round of the WGC-HSBC Champions on Thursday. Starting on the 10th, the Northern Irishman scorched through his first 12 holes in seven-under par. Despite two bogeys coming in ‘G-Mac’ was pleased with his opening five-under par 67 at Sheshan which put him two shots clear of six players tied for second on three-under. McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, lies 16th on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai and needs a high finish in the $8.5 million event here to achieve his goal of getting a shot at a $5 million bonus pool for the top 15 players after the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in a fortnight’s time.