It attracted a stellar field led by world No. 1 Luke Donald, who tied for 48th on one-under 287, and his nearest challenger to top spot, England's Lee Westwood -- who was equal 17th on 282.
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Kaymer's runaway victory and elevation to world number two means that with Lee Westwood - who finished a lowly 64th - in top spot, Europeans hold the top two positions in the rankings for the first time since Nick Faldo and Bernhard Langer in 1993.
In October 2010, six months after returning to golf with such poor form that he failed to win a single event in a season for the first time since turning professional, Woods lost his world best crown to Englishman Lee Westwood -- ending a record run of 281 consecutive weeks at the top (which started in June 2005).
America's Jim Furyk, Ricky Fowler and Steve Stricker are currently tied for ninth at two-under par alongside England's Lee Westwood and two-time champion, Germany's Bernhard Langer.
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But the gamble of leaving in-form Poulter, world number 12 Lee Westwood, and three-time major winner Padraig Harrington until the final three pairings backfired as the contest had already been decided before they had finished.
World number three Ernie Els, Henrik Stenson, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and ninth-ranked Vijay Singh are also among the strong field.
World number two Lee Westwood finished on one-under as did Europe's 2012 Ryder Cup captain, Jose Maria Olazabal, from Spain.
England's Lee Westwood, seeking back-to-back victories after his win in Spain on Sunday, dropped out of contention after adding a 77 to his opening 71.
Meanwhile, at the Indonesian Open, world No. 3 Lee Westwood shot a four-under-par 68 to extend his lead over the rest of the field to five shots.
Lee Westwood mounted a mid-round charge and four birdies in seven holes from the 9th got him to four under, but a double bogey on the 17th also let Woods off the hook.
Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen is two shots further back on 16-under while Lee Westwood, the tournament's highest ranked player, is 12-under after firing a 66 -- his best round of the week so far.
Alongside them is Australia's Terry Price, and their Ryder Cup team-mate Lee Westwood is only a shot further back.
Non-Ameicans Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy have all taken turns at the top of the World Golf Rankings.
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Neither player has won the season-ending event, which was launched in 2009 -- when Lee Westwood triumphed to overhaul McIlroy in the money list.
World No. 3 Lee Westwood finished day one on one-under despite dropping four shots in the first six holes.
"I think winning it twice is a fair achievement to start with, " said Hansen, who forms a three-ball with Englishmen Lee Westwood and Luke Donald in the opening two rounds.
Fisher and Lee Westwood were best placed in the second-last group to become the first Briton since Paul Lawrie in 1999 and the first Englishman to win the Open since Nick Faldo in 1992.
South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen is one shot further back after a composed round of 69 while playing partner England's Lee Westwood had to settle for an even-par round of 72 which leaves him in a tie for sixth on four-under par with Sweden's Henrik Stenson (70).
He tied for first (with Rickie Fowler) in putting and was one of only two players (Lee Westwood was the other) with no three-putts for the week.
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Cink is looking for his first victory since the 2009 British Open, but he and Haas were just one shot ahead of a group of four players -- and another nine were a stroke further back, including former major winners Louis Oosthuizen, Angel Cabrera and Keegan Bradley plus ex-world No. 1 Lee Westwood.
Fellow Ryder Cup star Lee Westwood was well placed after a 66 for nine-under 134, sharing third spot with Swede Henrik Stenson and Kevin Chappell.
World No.1 Rory McIlroy is currently tied for 30th on three-under par with England's Lee Westwood.
Spanish star Sergio Garcia was on 135, while world number eight Lee Westwood of England trailed by six shots after a one-under 71 in his first tournament of the year.
Playing partners Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood also fared badly in round one of the tournament - the first European Tour event of the season to be held in Britain.
Lee Westwood and Paul Casey are one shot further behind at six-under with a third Englishman Steven Tiley also on that mark after 10 holes when play was called off.
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Lee Westwood fell nine shots behind with a double bogey on the par-3 14th and a bogey on the par-5 17th.
World number one Luke Donald of England failed to capitalize as he struggled to a two-over par 74, one better than compatriot Lee Westwood who finished with a disappointing 75.
On Friday, Lee Westwood, also holding the lead when he teed off at 18, double-bogeyed to return to the pack at four under.
Englishman Lee Westwood was tied for fourth with South Africa's Retief Goosen on two-under after they shot 70 and 71 respectively on the testing, 7, 204-yard links course.
Garcia was part of a seven-strong group on seven under which also included two-time major winner Rory McIlroy and former world No. 1 Lee Westwood.
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