Malaysia Open

Westwood and McDowell share early lead in Malaysia

ESPN staff

February 5, 2015

Westwood and McDowell set the pace in Kuala Lumpur

Defending champion Lee Westwood and major winner Graeme McDowell shared the clubhouse lead in Thursday's opening round of the Malaysian Open.

Westwood, who romped to a seven-shot victory last year, again thrived at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, mixing seven birdies with one bogey to record a six-under-par round of 66.

Former US Open champion McDowell then matched that effort, also carding seven birdies on the par 72 layout, with both players' only blemish coming on the tricky par-four sixth hole.

They led a number of low early scores at the tournament, which is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours, although the heat and some unpredictable wind were factors for some players.

Among other early finishers, England's Tommy Fleetwood was third after a 67, two strokes ahead of European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.

Canadian Richard Lee and Australia's Andrew Dodt also shot 69, while local hope Mohd Iylia Jamil had a 70.

Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, who won the season-opening event on the Champions Tour in Hawaii late last month, opened with a 72, level with reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, American David Lipsky.