Was ist Paintball? » get to Shanghai.His plan was to play Japan,

SHANGHAI - Graeme McDowell likes a tough golf course, and Sheshan International was perfect for him Thursday. He opened with seven birdies in 12 holes and then hung on for a 5-under 67 that gave him a two-shot lead after one round of the HSBC Champions.In the 10th year of this tournament, the golf course was tougher than ever with ankle-deep rough and fairways that are not nearly as wide. That didnt seem to bother McDowell, who only once had to contend with the thick grass.A big key to this golf course is driving the ball well. I drove it very well today, McDowell said. And the greens are in fantastic shape, and I actually putted very well. Dropped a couple coming in, but all in all, very pleased with 5-under par on what I thought was a reasonably tricky day.Rickie Fowler also got off to a fast start before he settled down for a 69, joining a group that included U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer, Brandt Snedeker, Tim Clark, Chris Kirk and Tommy Fleetwood.The wind was strong and out of the opposite direction, which added to the demanding conditions.Jordan Spieth began his new PGA Tour season with two straight bogeys and had to save par with a long bunker shot on his third hole. He scratched his way back and wound up in a large group at 70 that featured Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson.It didnt take much for players to get going in the wrong direction.FedEx Cup champion Billy Horschel made a pair of double bogeys, only one birdie and shot an 80.This is a top event — some of the best players in the world, probably the best field youre going to get in Asia, and you dont want it to be a pushover, Fowler said. You want a good, solid test. And its showing that.Only 27 players in the 78-man field broke par, compared with 37 players under par on the first day last year when the winning score was 24-under 264. McDowell said he wouldnt be surprised to see something about 12 under win, even if the wind relents.Some players like Fowler and Spieth had limited expectations having not played since the Ryder Cup. McDowell, meanwhile, has played twice since the Ryder Cup, including a tie for 16th a week ago at the BMW Masters.Even so, the strong start surprised him.He ran off four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine, capping it off by driving the reachable 16th green and two-putting from 15 feet, and then holing a 45-foot birdie across the green on the par-3 17th. Two quick birdies after making the turn and he was at 7 under and on verge of running away from the field.But he made his first bogey on the par-3 fourth, which played into the wind. And on the one hole he tried to play it safe off the tee, it cost him. McDowell opted for 3-wood on the 603-yard eighth hole to keep it short of the bunker. He wound up in grass so thick he could only hit 8-iron for his second shot, and then he still had 215 yards left for his third. He pulled a 4-iron into the rough and failed to get up-and-down.I didnt need a leaderboard to let me know that 7 under through 12 is fairly strong, McDowell said. There were some tricky holes on the front nine. I made a couple of putts I should have in the first 12 holes, and then I made a couple of bogeys that I shouldnt have coming in. All in all, I think 5 under was a fair representation of my round.Snedeker also did a good job keeping the ball in play. He had high expectations for the week, even though he might get the prize for having travelled the longest — or at least the most — to get to Shanghai.His plan was to play Japan, Malaysia and China. But he withdrew from the Bridgestone Open when he felt something wrong with his stomach, flew home to Tennessee during the week of Malaysia to get it checked out, then flew back to Asia for the final World Golf Championship of the year.At least for one day, it was worth the trip.DIVOTS: Graham DeLaet had to withdraw after a 45 on nine holes because of a neck injury. The Canadian also withdrew from Malaysia last week with a sore neck. ... Kevin Stadler withdrew after two holes with a wrist injury. ... Jason Dufner had one moment when his body was in China and his head was still in Malaysia. Players were allowed to lift, clean and place their balls last week in soggy Malaysia. Dufner instinctively picked up his ball in the 18th fairway, a one-shot penalty. He had a 72. Just one of those things, Dufner said with a shrug. Paul Molitor Jersey . -- Chicago manager Darold Butler has a message for the Windy City. Dalton Pompey Blue Jays Jersey . Orlov, who scored two goals in the game, was assessed a major penalty for boarding on the play. The Flyers scored once on the power play and again with the extra attacker with 65 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime. http://www.bluejaysonline.com/blue-jays-...ravis-jersey/.Y. - For once, Clayton Kershaw was glad to see a long shutout streak end. Jack Morris Jersey . Second-seeded Sloane Stephens of the United States made lighter work of her day as she beat 2009 champion and Swiss wild card Timea Bacsinszky 6-3, 6-3. Two seeds fell: No. 4 Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium lost to Katarzyna Piter of Poland 6-4, 6-2, and No. George Bell Blue Jays Jersey . Wheeler scored two goals, including the winner, as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Minnesota Wild 6-4 on Friday in a game that featured a seven-goal first period.ESTERO, Fla. -- Pittsburgh Penguins star centre Sidney Crosbys right wrist appears to be on the road to recovery. The reigning NHL MVP said Friday hes pleased with the way his wrist has responded to treatment over the summer and is anxious for training camp to begin as the Penguins try to recover from their second-round collapse in the playoffs. "Its good," Crosby said. "You want to see how things progress throughout the summer once you start skating and get back to that regular routine. You want to see how it reacts so Im happy with the way its gone." Crosby led the NHL with 104 points on his way to a second Hart Trophy as the leagues top player, but scored just one goal in 13 playoff games as Pittsburgh fell to the New York Rangers in seven games after blowing a 3-1 lead. He insisted in the aftermath he was healthy only to reveal hed been dealing with the wrist for the latter part of the season. The 27-year-old considered surgery before opting to wait and see if further treatment would produce the desired results. He looked just fine skating alongside fellow NHLers Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene of the Colorado Avalanche, Jonathan Tavares and Kyle Okposo of the New York Islanders and the Toronto Maple Leafs David Clarkson under the direction of trainer Matt Belfry. Crosby likened the workouts to "hockey school" because it allows players to focus on fundamentals and individual skill work, an opportunity the long slog through the regular season doesnt often provide. "Its just refreshing things, relearning things as you can," Crosby said. When Crosby returns to Pittsburgh before camp begins next month, hell find the landscape far different than the one he left in May. The team fired general manager RRay Shero and coach Dan Bylsma as part of a massive front office restructuring after the franchise failed for the fifth straight season to reach the Stanley Cup final.dddddddddddd The Penguins tabbed former Carolina GM Jim Rutherford to replace Shero. Rutherford went through a lengthy coaching search before settling on Mike Johnston, whose first job running the show in the NHL will be in a crucible where any spring that doesnt end with a championship is a disappointment. "Were going to have some new faces in the dressing room trying to get that momentum and get a fresh start," Crosby said. "Were not happy with the way things ended last year." Crosby doesnt believe the expectations need to change even though defencemen Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen and All-Star forward James Neal left in the off-season. "The organization is committed to winning," Crosby said. "We have opportunities as players to be successful every year. As far as the team is concerned, I think were in a great position to win every year. Well do our best to do our part." The camp also gave Crosby a chance to hang out with rookie of the year and good friend Nathan MacKinnon. Both former No. 1 overall picks hail from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada. Crosby is well versed in what it takes to cope with being deemed a franchise saviour, not that MacKinnon needs much help after scoring 63 points and helping the Avalanche back to the post-season for the first time in four years. "I can relate to a lot of things hes going through," Crosby said. "Hes handled it pretty well. You see the way hes playing the first year with the Calder Trophy. Hes just going to get better. Its a matter of being there for him." ' ' '