Watney ties course record with 8-under 64

SHANGHAI, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Nick Watney tied the course record with an 8-under-par 64 Thursday and owns a 2-stroke lead at the World Golf Championships tournament in Shanghai.

Watney piled up seven birdies and an eagle, offset slightly by one bogey, in the tournament's first round at the Sheshan International Golf Club. Martin Kaymer, Shane Lowery and Ryan Moore each shot 66 and are tied for second. Tiger Woods is in a group of four players tied for fifth at 5-under 67.

Watney opened his round on the back nine, posting birdies at his first two holes. He eagled the par-5, 563-yard 14th hole, dropping a 30-foot putt, and backed that with a birdie at No. 15 to make the turn at 5-under.

He birdied each of the course's first four holes and was 9-under after 13 holes. He parred the next four holes but three-putted for bogey at his final hole of the day.

"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," Watney said. "I played very well, I got off to a nice start. And the greens are so good that if you hit a putt on line, it's definitely going to go in."