Three share lead in China; Woods one back
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-11-10 22:16

O'Malley played the back nine first on Thursday. He posted just one birdie over his first five holes. The Australian caught fire from there however.

He birdied the final three holes of the back nine to make the turn at minus- four. O'Malley continued to roll on the front nine with a birdie on the first.

The 40-year-old birdied each of the next three holes to make it seven straight birdies. That moved him to minus-eight. O'Malley parred his final five holes to share the first-round lead.

Singh was joined in a tie for 10th place at minus-five by Thongchai Jaidee, Nick O'Hern, Ian Poulter, Thaworn Wiratchant, Lian-Wei Zhang, Thomas Bjorn and Paul Casey.

Colin Montgomerie, who won his eighth European Tour Order of Merit crown with his tie for third place at the Volvo Masters, struggled playing alongside Woods. The Scotsman posted a two-over-par 74.