SHANGHAI, China -- Heavy rain wiped out all play Friday at the HSBC Champions, forcing organizers to try to find a way to squeeze in 54 holes over Saturday and Sunday to complete the event.

Henrik Stenson led the damp first round Thursday with a 7-under 65. Four well-known players were a stroke behind: Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, Anthony Kim and Phil Mickelson.

Officials for the tournament, which includes 10 of the world's top 20 players, said they hoped to complete 72 holes by Sunday, but some play may be required on Monday to finish the tournament. Playing only 54 holes is also possible in the $5 million event at the Sheshan Golf Club.

"If we have any further delays ... there is a strong possibility that play in the fourth round may need to be completed on Monday morning, and this has been provisionally agreed with all parties within the tournament," said European Tour Tournament Director David Probyn.

Play was to begin Friday at 8:40 a.m. local time, but persistent rain forced organizers to keep pushing back the possible start for the 78-player field. Organizers canceled all play at 2:00 p.m. with play set to resume at 6:45 a.m. on Saturday.

Weather forecasts indicate more rain on Saturday with clearing skies on Sunday.

The HSBC event is being called "Asia's major" by event organizers. There are suggestions it should become a World Golf Championships event. However that may require scheduling earlier in the year when there is less rain.

On Thursday, Stenson shot his 65 after dropping in a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th.

Garcia nearly tied for the lead, but the Spaniard missed a four-foot eagle putt on the 18th after hitting a 5-wood from 235 yards to four feet, and was forced to settle for a closing birdie.

"Unfortunately, my putting stroke didn't feel as good as it's been feeling lately," Garcia said. "Maybe it's the jet-lag or something."

Garcia is the world's No. 3-ranked player behind Tiger Woods and Mickelson, and has a chance to move in to second if he finishes in the top three this week.

If he wins, the No. 2 spot is his. If Garcia finishes second, Mickelson needs to finish at least fourth to keep his spot. Mickelson will need to finish at least 15th if Garcia is third.

"The important thing is that I'm moving in the right direction," Garcia said. "It will be nice to finish the year as No. 2, but if I don't, I'm just going to come out next year going strong and try to keep playing well."

Mickelson said he seldom thinks about being ranked No. 2 behind Woods, or losing that spot to Garcia this week.

"That's the last thing that I really think about, other than trying to improve my game and be the best that I can be and hopefully the best in the world," he said. "But I don't worry about the points system or the actual rankings themselves."

An all-day drizzle combined with some heavy rain -- mixed with fog and Shanghai smog -- to limit visibility at the Sheshan GC just outside China's financial capital.

Stenson said at the 288-yard 16th he could see only "contours" of the green.

"It was pretty hard to see at times, yeah," the Swede said. "I thought there would have been a fog delay, or a smog delay."

Added Mickelson: "Although it was difficult to see, it was very good scoring conditions."

Stenson opened with a bogey, but then dropped a 6-foot putt for an eagle on No. 2. He birdied the next three holes -- two with 15-foot putts -- and kept building momentum.

"I was rolling it good on the greens," Stenson said. "I think it was more being able to shoot a really good score without playing well."

Kim limped around the course after badly spraining his right ankle and bruising his jaw while horseback riding in the last few weeks. He said the horse raised up and as it came down, his mouth slammed shut as his mount hit the ground.

"I don't know what's going on with it," Kim said of his jaw. "I just can't open my mouth very wide."

"My diet is pretty much limited to noodles," he added.

The HSBC Champions also serves as the first event of the 2009 European Tour season that culminates a year from now in the Dubai World Championship. The European Tour has also rebranded the Order of Merit -- the season money title -- and now calls it the Race to Dubai.

The Dubai tournament will have a $10 million purse with $10 million more available in bonus money.

Several American-based players -- including Kim and Camilo Villegas of Colombia -- have recently joined the European Tour hoping to capitalize on the season-ending money prize.

After dropping a shot at his first hole of the day, Stenson reached the turn in 5-under 31 after picking up six shots in five holes courtesy of some solid putting and an eagle at the second -- following a 3-wood approach to within six feet.

And as early morning fog brought a steady stream of rain throughout the afternoon, Stenson headed home in 2 under following a pair of late birdies to sit at the top of the leaderboard.

"I'm very pleased with that," said the 32-year-old world No. 12. "I haven't been playing great lately and I'm still struggling a little bit, especially with the longer clubs, but I hit a lot of three woods and kept the ball in play and really made some good stuff from there on. I hit some good approaches and made some great putts over the 18 holes.

"I made my scoring around the greens. I'm pleased with the scoring and for keeping it together," he added. "It's a very good start and hopefully I can build a little bit on it."

He had a chance for an eagle at the last but, after hitting a 5-wood from 235 yards to four feet, watched as the putt lipped out and he was forced to settle for a closing birdie.

Mickelson, who won a thrilling three-way playoff last year, dropped just two shots over his opening round, which also included an eagle at the second.

"It was a good first round. With the weather conditions and the greens being soft, even though it was difficult to see, it was a good first round," said the American. "I putted well and made a lot of good putts. Last year I putted the greens well, that was a big key to me winning."

World No. 16 Scott played a mixed opening nine holes in 1 under, but made his move with a flawless 5-under back nine.

"I'm fairly pleased with the way I played," he said. "I think I probably couldn't have been much better. I could have been a little bit worse so that's encouraging to get the most out of the round.

"I would like to hit it a bit better, but it was quite hard to pick lines. The visibility was poor and it wasn't easy to feel your way around the course."

Zimbabwe's Marc Cayeux and Englishman Oliver Wilson sit at 5 under after signing for first-round 65s, with Ian Poulter and Irish duo Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie in a group a further shot off the lead.

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