Mickelson got to see more of the course than he would have liked

World number two Phil Mickelson carded a three-under 68 but it only gave him a share of fifth on the first day of the Singapore Open at the Sentosa Club.

Mickelson struggled with his driver and ran up a double bogey at the third, but his irons helped him to five birdies.

He was upstaged by Australians Gavin Flint and Kane Webber plus American Jin Park, who share the lead after 66s.

Ernie Els, missing the European Order of Merit finale in Spain, shot 72 with Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke level.

Playing in the morning, Flint fired five birdies in his bogey-free round, much to the delight of his mother, who resides in Singapore and was watching from the gallery.

"I'm definitely very pleased with my performance. I hit the ball really well and putted well also," the 26-year-old from Brisbane commented.

Webber, 27, who won the Macau Open in 2006, also kept a bogey off his card.

Asian Tour rookie Park, 28, has not finished higher than his 11th place at the Midea China Classic this year, but earned a share of the first day lead courtesy of six birdies and a solitary dropped shot.

Defending champion Adam Scott, competing in his first event for a month, bogeyed his opening hole before recovering to a 70, matched by Vijay Singh.

Els was perhaps still struggling from the stomach upset he suffered on Wednesday, while the man he beat in last month's World Match Play at Wentworth, US Open champion Angel Cabrera, posted a level-par 71.

Mickelson, who revealed he would be immediately contacting coach Butch Harmon in America for guidance, said: "I scored well, I made some good putts and I made some good iron shots but my driving was terrible.

"This course is very challenging tee to green, the fairways are tight and I drove it very poorly.

"I was lucky to escape with a three-under-par round but I feel that if I can get my driver and three-wood turned around, I should be able to have a good remaining three days."