Canada's number one Mike Weir hit a two-under-par 69, recovering from a bogey on the par-five 14th to string together four straight birdies on the front nine.

BBC: Waite out in front

England's Poulter, who was one of the early starters to benefit from a lighter breeze and smoother greens on the fast-running course, shared a tie for fourth with Spanish debutant Rafael Cabrera-Bello, South Korea's KJ Choi, Canada's 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir, Germany's Alex Cejka and Japanese 18-year-old Ryo Ishikawa.

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