Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth share HSBC Champions tournament lead

Rory McIlroy finally climbed out of bed 10 pounds lighter from a bout of food poisoning and shot 68. Jordan Spieth returned from his longest break without touching his golf clubs and also had a 68. Both felt good about their start Thursday in the HSBC Champions.

It just wasn’t enough to be anywhere near the lead.

Branden Grace of South Africa, a month removed from his sterling performance in the Presidents Cup, birdied half of the holes at soft, vulnerable Sheshan International for a nine-under 63. It was the lowest opening round in the 11-year history of the World Golf Championship event.

Kevin Kisner made his debut in China by playing bogey-free for a 64. He was joined by Steven Bowditch of Australia and Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark, who opened with five birdies in six holes and was seven under through 10 holes. It was enough to make Olesen wonder how low he could go, though that ended when he made a sloppy bogey on the par-five 14th and he had to settle for a 64.

Dustin Johnson, the winner the last time he was here two years ago, drilled a three-wood over the water and onto the green at the par-five second hole and made an eagle to join Patrick Reed and Danny Willett at 65.

Langer off to hot start in Champions tournament

Bernhard Langer left Colin Montgomerie and Jeff Maggert and everyone else behind in the Champions Tour’s season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Langer shot a seven-under 63 on Desert Mountain’s Cochise Course to take a two-stroke lead.

The 58-year-old German star began the week third in the Charles Schwab Cup race, 66 points behind Montgomerie and 27 behind Maggert. With players receiving a point for every $500 earned in the $2.5-million tournament, Langer was $33,000 behind Montgomerie and $13,500 behind Maggert.

Montgomerie had a 70, leaving him tied for 17th in the 30-man field. Maggert three-putted the par-5 18th for a bogey and a 72 that dropped him into a tie for 24th.

Langer is trying to win the season title for the second straight year and record third time overall. The champion will receive a $1 million annuity, the runner-up a $500,000 annuity, and the third-place finisher a $300,000 annuity.

Scottsdale resident Michael Allen and Billy Andrade were tied for second at 65. Andrade had a hole-in-one on the 190-yard second hole, using a six-iron.

Castro’s 62 good for two-shot lead at PGA Tour event

Roberto Castro shot a 10-under 62, his lowest score on the PGA Tour, to take a two-shot lead in the Sanderson Farms Championship at Jackson, Miss.

The 30-year-old Castro avoided trouble all afternoon with a bogey-free round in nearly ideal conditions for low scores. He made 10 birdies — five on each nine at the Country Club of Jackson.

Conditions were forgiving thanks to a course softened by rain and very little wind. That could change in the coming days — more rain is expected starting Friday.

Aaron Baddeley and Bryce Molder were tied for second at 64. Adam Hadwin and Brian Davis shot 65.