Irish, Austrian duos share lead

The American team of Bob Tway and Scott Verplank are four shots back.
SEVILLE, Spain (AP) -- The Irish duo of Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington shot a 12-under 60 Thursday to share the lead with Austria's Martin Wiegele and Markus Brier after the first round of the team World Cup.
Opening day conditions resulted in low scores at the final World Golf Championships tournament of the season. The greens were soft, the wind was down at the Real Club de Golf, and 12 teams were within four shots of the leaders after the first round of better ball. The second round will be alternate shot.
"It was just perfect conditions for professional golfers to make us look good," Harrington said.
England's Paul Casey and Luke Donald were one off the lead after a 61, followed by Japan's Shigeki Maruyama and Hidemichi Tanaka (62) and Spain's Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez (63).
Americans Bob Tway and Scott Verplank were another shot back after an 8-under 64. Verplank accepted the invitation to play -- he chose his Oklahoma neighbor -- after nine higher-ranked Americans turned down the event.
Others
Six teams were tied at 8-under 64 -- Australia, Scotland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and the United States.
McGinley and Harrington could have taken the lead on the last hole, but both missed 15-foot birdie putts.
McGinley gave Ireland an early boost, holing a 25-foot bunker shot for birdie on No. 2.
They birdied seven of the next 10 holes, and then McGinley holed a 30-foot bunker shot for an eagle.
"This game is very much like the Ryder Cup in terms of momentum," McGinley said.
"When it comes to a team event, momentum is massive."
On a day when obscure teams shot respectable scores -- Myanmar shot a 69 to top playing partners Argentina by a stroke -- the Irish were happy to be leading an event first played in 1953.
"You used to come to the World Cup and there would be 10 or 12 really weak teams," McGinley said.
"There a lot of strong players in the world nowadays."