Chris Wood leads the way in Singapore

Chris Wood fired a sparkling 63 to claim a share of the clubhouse lead at the Singapore Masters on eight under par, but a morning weather disruption means much of the field still had to complete their first rounds at Sentosa Golf Club.

Playing the Tanjon course, Wood made a blistering start as the Englishman reeled off three consecutive birdies, although play was suspended for four hours due to lightning between the second and the third.

The 22-year-old added an eagle at the sixth to reach the turn in 31 and three more birdies in a row from the 11th saw him quickly move to eight under par and top the leaderboard.

He was joined by playing partner Kim Bi-o, who played the front nine in 33 but five birdies on the way back helped the Korean draw level with Wood.

Igancio Garrido, meanwhile, was piecing together potentially the round of his career with the Spaniard eight under through just 11 holes.

The former Ryder Cup player began with three straight birdies and picked up three more to play the front nine in just 30. Garrido then recorded birdies at the 10th and 11th before play was brought to a halt due to darkness.

Shigeki Maruyama was one stroke back in the clubhouse after posting a 64, the Japanese veteran making six birdies and an eagle with his only blemish coming with a bogey at the par-five 12th. He was level with Swede Rikard Karlberg, who has three holes to play.

Northern Ireland's Gareth Maybin also made a fine start with a 65 to finish the day two shots off the pace in a tie for sixth alongside Anthony Kang, who was six under through 14 holes.

Darren Clarke was well placed in a big group of players at five under par thanks to a bogey-free effort that also included Graeme McDowell, Nick Dougherty, Miguel Angel Jiminez, Jamie Donaldson and YE Yang.

McDowell and Dougherty were still to complete their rounds and with the Tanjon layout playing the easier of the two, the duo's efforts were even more encouraging given they were playing the Serapong course.

Dougherty had made five birdies in 11 holes while McDowell, eager to chase down Martin Kaymer in the Race to Dubai, began like a man possessed with five birdies in six holes from the third, the Northern Irishman likely disappointed his first round was curtailed.

Phil Mickelson was at four under par, as was Italian teenager Matteo Manassero, following solid 67s, while defending champion Ian Poulter was even through six holes on the Serapong layout.

Last week's HSBC Champions winner Francesco Molinari, meanwhile, was two under after eight holes.

The 204-strong field will play both the Serapong and Tanjon courses through their first two rounds before the tournament reverts to just the Serapong for the weekend.