Henrik Stenson moved another step closer to becoming European No. 1 in setting an equal new course record 64 at the close of the opening round of the weather-affected Turkish Airlines Open.

Stenson joined playing partners Tiger Woods and Justin Rose resuming their round at 8am local time from the 11^th hole after poor light had halted play near 5pm local time Thursday.

Henrik Stenson in front and sharing the lead with a new course record setting 64. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

The Swede was four under par at the time and then proceeded to birdie the 11^th, 13^th and closing two holes to join South African Darren Fichardt and Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn atop of the board on eight under par on the Maxx Royal course.

The trio now share the course record given it is the first time the Maxx Royal has host a major championship.

“After some good playing yesterday I was in a good position when they called it and I just carried on today making a couple of nice birdies coming in,” he said.

“So I am very happy with my score, but then I am taking it one shot at a time as my right wrist is still not in great shape.”

Stenson arrived in Turkey enjoying an Euro 155,866 lead on nearest Race to Dubai rival and fellow Lake Nona resident Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland who has elected not to contest this week’s $US 7m event.

Rose the reigning US Open champion, and also living at Lake Nona, is lying third on the money list and Euro 335, 201 behind Stenson.

However if Stenson were to capture this week’s Euro 848,930 first prize cheque it would put even more pressure on either McDowell, Rose and a fourth Lake Nona resident in Ian Poulter, who is fourth on the money list, who would need to win in Dubai to have any chance of unseating Stenson.

And there is a friendly bet between all four that whoever ends the season as European Tour No. 1 the other three will be in debt.

“Justin was walking around the other day with a white cloth over his arm, like a drinks waiter, and reminding me that is how I will look when he wins the Race to Dubai,” said Stenson smiling.

“So I am trying my best to keep him behind me.”

Woods restarted his round 15 hours after he left the course staring at a 20-yard chip shot over a bunker.

There was less than 30 spectators waiting to watch Woods hit his shot to four-feet and hole the putt for birdie and move to two under par.

But by the time Woods, Stenson and Rose ended their round at 11.15am local time there was a couple of thousand spectators following the group.

However Woods spoilt his round when he found a water hazard with his second shot at the 18th to eventually take a bogey in a two under par 70.

Woods had been up very early watching TV coverage of his beloved Stanford University side squash Oregons championship hopes with a 26-20 victory in their Pac-12 showdown at Stanford.

However Woods and his two playing partners had just 45-minutes for an early lunch and tee-up for the start of their second round.