Irritated Tiger Woods still in the picture

TIGER Woods made a solid start to the WGC-HSBC Champions, despite the distraction of being pursued by a huge crowd of snap-happy locals following his every move.

Crowd behaviour may have improved since Woods made his first appearance in China eight years ago, when stiletto-heeled fans charged across the greens in chaotic scenes at the Mission Hills club in Shenzhen.

It was clear yesterday, though, that not everyone in the packed gallery following Woods in the opening round of his third tournament in Shanghai was familiar with the etiquette of watching golf.

"There's certainly a lot of people out there," said Woods, after shooting a five-under-par 67 to stand three shots behind the early leader, American Nick Watney. "There was a lot of people ... moving and things. We had to stay focused. I think it's a disadvantage because there are so many people with cameras here. The other groups probably don't have to deal with it as much as we do."

The problems started at Woods' opening hole when cameras clicked and whirred as the 14-times major champion played his first tee-shot in front of more than a thousand spectators. "The guy in the grandstand basically did a photo sequence. I flinched on it and hit it straight to the right," the 33-year-old American added.

Despite finding the rough, Woods managed to recover for a par, but the problems did not stop there, as Ross Fisher, his playing partner, explained. "It took us a while to get into it, because it was very difficult to focus and concentrate because there were so many cameras going off," said the Englishman, fresh from his World Match Play triumph in Spain on Sunday.

"I think even at the first hole, I backed off my second shot twice, three times, and heard cameras go off in swings and everything. So it was difficult, it was tough mentally," added Fisher, who finished with a 70.

It did not really improve until the seventh hole, Woods said, but it was something he had come to expect playing in countries where the game was still underdeveloped. "There's no history (in China) yet," he said. "The populous has not played golf long enough to understand yet, that takes time. There's a lot of countries we've played in that are the same way, but over time as they get more experience and more people playing the game and really understanding what the game is all about, then it doesn't happen as much."

Watney tied the course record with a virtually flawless eight-under-par 64 to claim a two-stroke first-round lead. Watney, who won the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines in California earlier this year, carded just one bogey during his round to top the leaderboard ahead of compatriot Ryan Moore, Race to Dubai contender Martin Kaymer and Irish Open champion Shane Lowry.

Woods sits just a further shot back alongside Volvo World Match Play Championship runner-up Anthony Kim, Chinese Taipei's Lin Wen-tang and a resurgent Paul Casey.

Spectators should have paid closer attention to Watney as the two-time US PGA Tour winner posted seven birdies and an eagle before three-putting the ninth, his last hole, for his only blemish.

The world No32 said: "I played very well, I got off to a nice start. The greens are so good that if you hit a putt on line, it's definitely going to go in. I was putting very well and I just tried to give myself as many chances as possible and I was able to make a few."

Kaymer, currently second in the Race to Dubai with just three events remaining, is still battling the foot injury which sidelined him for two months, but dropped just one shot during his opening 66.

The German said: "I hit a lot of good shots, made the putts finally and a 66 on any course is a good result, but especially in the World Golf Championships event, it helps to start off with a good round. My foot is hurting a little more than last week. I am surprised, but the good thing is there is only three rounds to go and then I have a week off."

Phil Mickelson, the 2007 champion, mixed four birdies with a single bogey on his way to a share of 13th place after a round of 69.

Sergio Garcia had a day to forget with a three-over 75. The good news for the Spaniard is that there will be no cut at the tournament so he has three full rounds to repair the damage.