Hong Kong Open: Paul Casey still had reasons to be cheerful despite a poor start to his bid for back-to-back victories in the Hong Kong Open.
Just four days after claiming his fifth European Tour title, Casey came crashing back to earth with an opening 74, four over par, and it took a closing hat-trick of birdies to keep his hopes alive.
The 28-year-old's victory in the China Open in nearby Shenzhen on Sunday lifted him back into the world's top 50, which will guarantee a place in next year's US Masters if he can remain there at the end of the year.
But the chances of earning any more world ranking points look slim, to say the least, after the Ryder Cup player slumped to six over par after nine holes at Fanling Golf Club.
Starting on the 10th, Casey ran up a double bogey six at the 11th, and then dropped four more shots in the space of five holes to go to the turn in 42.
A first birdie of the day finally arrived on the fourth - his 13th - but that was sandwiched between two more dropped shots, and it took birdies at the last three holes to salvage a respectable score.
"Everything that could happen on the first nine, happened," admitted Casey. "I was stuck behind trees, in bunkers, it was all going against me.
"Even on the par-five third, I hit the pin with my approach and it bounced back into the bunker. Thomas (Bjorn, his playing partner) was laughing at me.
"I was a little bit mentally drained after last week, but that doesn't account for that. I didn't feel that fresh this morning, I must admit, but that doesn't excuse my front nine.
"But I'd rather have a win last week and struggle this week than have two average weeks. The way I finished was very encouraging and I will try and take that form out there again tomorrow. I'm still smiling, and why not? There was nothing I could do and I will go out tomorrow and try to shoot four under or better."
Korea's Wook-Soon Kang - the last Asian player to win the title in 1998 - held the lead on six under par with India's Jyoti Randhawa, Canada's Rick Gibson and Swede Martin Erlandsson a shot behind.
England's Richard McEvoy was a stroke further back on four under.
Irish pair Gary Murphy and Damien McGrane shot two-under-par 68s, one better than David Higgins.
Peter Lawrie and Michael Hoey were both on 72.
McEvoy won the tour's qualifying school in 2003, but lost his card in 2004 despite starting this event with a 62 before eventually finishing 15th.
The 26-year-old former Walker Cup player won back his playing rights via the Challenge Tour this year, and added: "It is the end of a long year but it does feel like a fresh start for me.
"I'm very pleased to be back on Tour and I'm going to try my hardest to make the most of it this year. I learned a lot two years ago but didn't perform to my capabilities," he said.
Colin Montgomerie was among the afternoon starters and looked like he would regret not following Padraig Harrington and pulling out of the event when he bogeyed the second and ran up a double bogey seven on the third. But the 42-year-old Scot, who admitted he was "knackered" by the battle to secure his eighth Order of Merit title, played the next 15 holes in three under to record a 69.
"There was nothing really wrong, three decent 65s and you never know," Montgomerie said. "Two over after three holes wasn't a great start, but I did okay." Details in Sports Round-Up
