With a passionate home-crowd backing him at the Sheshan International Golf Club, Li did not disappoint them as he mixed his card with seven birdies, one eagle and a bogey to take a one-shot advantage over France’s Victor Perez.

Li gave his fans a lot to cheer about when he opened with two birdies on 10 and 11.

After making three more birdies on holes 14, 17 and 18, he dropped his only shot of the day on the par-4 1st before providing one of the loudest cheers of the day with his eagle on the 2nd hole.

The Chinese then added two more birdies on the 3rd and 8th hole to stake his place atop the leaderboard after the first round.

RIGHT: Li is the first-ever Chinese to hold the opening round lead at a WGC event. PHOTO: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images.

“It was pretty good start today and it will be absolutely great for Chinese golfers and Chinese golf fans to have a Chinese player winning the WGC-HSBC Champions here in China. But for the next three days, anything can happen,” Li said.

“I don't want to think too much about it. I just want to focus and concentrate on the upcoming three days because anything can happen.”

Perez, who is making his WGC debut after claiming his maiden European Tour victory in Scotland last month, carded two eagles en route to a 65 while defending champion Xander Schauffele of the United States was tied for fourth with Korea’s Sungjae Im, Queenslander Adam Scott and England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick.

Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand signed for a 70 to start his maiden WGC appearance in tied-26th place, six shots back of Li.