Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez has a lot of work to do if he is to win a record-equalling fourth Hong Kong Open after a disappointing opening round on Thursday.

The Spanish veteran signed for a level-par 70, one shot better than China’s teenage prodigy Guan Tianlang but six strokes behind the early leader, journeyman David Higgins of Ireland.

Higgins’ 64 leaves him one shot clear of Italy’s Andrea Pavan going into Friday’s second round at the $US1.3 million ($A1.44 million) co-sanctioned European Tour and Asian Tour event.

Seven players – including Australia’s Andrew Dodt – were tied in third on four under.

Jimenez, 49, put together a mixed round, with four bogeys cancelling out four birdies while 15-year-old Guan collapsed to a one-over-par 71 after a blistering start when he lead for much of the morning’s play.

“There’s a long way to go,” a disappointed Jimenez said after taking three putts for bogey on the last hole.

“I hit it very well, apart from missing a couple of fairways. It’s very difficult to put the ball close from the semi-rough because it flies.

“I had a few birdies, but it wasn’t enough. I need to hole more putts and I’ll be happy.”

Jimenez was the pre-tournament favourite due to being the highest-ranked player at world No.48 to be competing.

A lack of big names means the Spaniard has a great chance to break his own record, set last year, as the oldest winner on the European Tour and to match Hsieh Yung-yo of Taiwan’s four wins in the southern Chinese city.

Earlier, Guan – who caused a stir at the US Masters this year when he became the youngest player to make the cut in a major – made a sensational start, completing his opening 13 holes without dropping a shot.

Along the way he picked up five birdies to lead the field at the Hong Kong Golf Club but was undone by three consecutive bogeys and a costly triple bogey on the ninth – the penultimate hole of his first round.