Shane Lowry stormed into a tie for second place on the first day World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai today, carding a six-under-par 66 to trail America’s Nick Watney by two shots.

The 3 Irish Open winner birdied two of the last three holes to join Race to Dubai contender Martin Kaymer of Germany and American Ryan Moore.

Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang, the reigning Hong Kong Open champion, joined Tiger Woods and his fellow Ryder Cup winner Anthony Kim in the clubhouse tied for fifth on five under.

Paul Casey, playing in the same group as Harrington, later joining him, while Race to Dubai leader Lee Westwood signed for a two-under 70. Phil Mickelson is also well placed after an opening round of 69.

Lowry’s former Ireland amateur team-mate Rory McIlroy could only manage a one-over-par 73, while Pádraig Harrington hit four bogeys on his back nine in a two-over 74 that leaves him towards the tail of the field.

Watney, who started on the back nine, had looked on course to break the course record and had a outside chance of a magical 59 after reaching the turn in 31 courtesy of a 30-foot eagle putt.

He then reeled off an amazing run of four straight birdies at the start of his back nine, the highlight another mammoth 30-foot putt at the fourth.

The fireworks, though, stopped there for the 28-year-old, runner-up to Phil Mickelson at March’s WGC-CA Championship, and he blotted his scorecard with a final-hole bogey following a costly three putt after failing to pick up further gains on his trip home and had to settle for matching the course record.

“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,” said world number 32 Watney.

“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.”