Lascuña opens with 76

MANILA, Philippines - Tony Lascuña groped for form while playing against some of the world’s best players in one of the richest tournaments in Asia, hobbling with a birdie-less four-over 76 and falling in joint 63rd at the start of the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament paced by Graeme McDowell in Shanghai yesterday.

Lascuña, whose impressive finishes in this year’s Asian Tour, including a runner-up finish in Selangor Open, netted him a spot in the $8.5 million tournament, hit just nine greens but had five par-saves while flubbing two birdie chances inside seven feet.