SPORTS

Rikard Karlberg takes 1-shot lead in China in HSBC debut

Associated Press
Published | Updated

United States' Rickie Fowler hits from tee during the 2016 WGC-HSBC Champions golf tournament at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) (The Associated Press)

United States' Rickie Fowler prepares to play during the 2016 WGC-HSBC Champions golf tournament at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) (The Associated Press)

United States' Rickie Fowler swings during the 2016 WGC-HSBC Champions golf tournament at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) (The Associated Press)

Rikard Karlberg made his World Golf Championships debut with an 8-under 64 to take a one-shot lead over Rickie Fowler in the HSBC Champions on Thursday.

One year after Russell Knox won in his first WGC at Sheshan International, Karlberg took an impressive first step. The Swede was 9 under through 16 holes on a soggy course before scrambling for par on the 17th and then taking his lone bogey on the par-5 18th when he drove into a fairway bunker.

Fowler attacked the par 5s in his first round since the Ryder Cup.

Knox, Daniel Berger and Hideki Matsuyama were at 66.

Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson never got anything going. McIlroy had a 71, while Johnson struggled to hit fairways and made only one birdie in a 74.