Fitzpatrick, the third leader of England, in Shanghai

Englishman Fitzpatrick is the world number 40WGC-HSBC Champions leaderboard-8 P Reed (USA); -6 X Schauffele (US), T Finau (US); -5 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -4 B Horschel (USA), T Fleetwood (Eng), K Aphibarnrat (Tha), CT Pan (Tpe), R Cabrera Bello (Spa) Other selected: -3 I Poulter (J), J Rose (M), M Wallace (Eng); level B Koepka (US), R McIlroy (NI) Full standings

Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick is three shots from leader Patrick Reed after the first round of the WGC-HSBC Champions.

Fitzpatrick, who made eight birdies in his round of 67, ended up at five under the level of compatriot Tommy Fleetwood, a blow further adrift in Shanghai.

Masters champion Reed scored a bogey-free eight-under-par 64 to lead by two of fellow Americans Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau.

"It feels great," said Reed, fighting for the first time since the Ryder Cup.

"To get out of here and be the first event back and feel that I hit the ball very solidly, I had complete control, especially with how windy it was today

] "It felt very good, because if you can make such rounds in such circumstances, you know that you have confidence when the wind stops and there are perfect conditions."

Defending champion Justin Rose scored a bogey in the final hole for a three-under 69, level with fellow English Ian Poulter and Matt Wallace.

Rory McIlroy had to play once with his alternate hand to a double-bogey on the par-four 16th, next to the new number one Brooks Koepka.

The number five in the world, starting on the back nine, sprayed his tee-shot in the vicinity of a large suitcase so he did not have a right hand swinging

The Northern Irishman changed it club face to connect a left-handed cleara nce on his way to drop two shots, but recovered well with four birdies on the first nine to complete eight beats of the pace on level par.