Siem (left) and Cejka only had one bogey in their round

Alex Cejka and Marcel Siem combined to shoot a five-under-par 67 in windy conditions at Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

The Welsh pair of Ian Woosnam and Bradley Dredge are clear in second, with France's Thomas Levet and Raphael Jacquelin a further shot back after a 69.

England's Paul Casey and Justin Rose struggled in the high winds, dropping four shots in the last six holes on their way to a 73.

Argentina, Paraguay and South Africa are all on 70 while the USA are tied for seventh after their pair of Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard finished with a 71.

The 1997 winners, Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, struggled to a two-over-par 74.

Cejka and Siem had six birdies and a bogey, which came at the 17th, and they nearly dropped a second shot at the 18th after Siem drove into the rough.

When the wind comes up it's very demanding Wales player Ian Woosnam

"It really was very tough for us, especially 17 and 18," Cejka said.

"I wouldn't say there is a hole where you can rest. Every shot you have to give 100%, otherwise you miss it on the wrong side and there is no shot at all."

The 23-year-old Siem is ranked only 296th in the world.

He said: "It was a tough start today. I was really nervous at the first tee. It was the biggest tournament I have ever teed off in."

Woosnam said the course is more difficult now than it was in Europe's loss to the United States in the 1991 Ryder Cup.

"They've put in a lot more bunkers; changed the 18th hole," said Woosnam. "When the wind comes up, it's very, very demanding."

The Chilean team withdrew after nine holes, with Felipe Aguilar unable to finish his round after fracturing two fingers when he tripped getting into a van on Tuesday.

Thursday's first round was a better-ball round, while the second round will be an alternate-shot round.

There is after another better-ball round Saturday and the tournament will be brought to a close with a second alternate-shot round.

Teams: (in alphabetical order)