Spectators look on as US golfer Tiger Woods tees off during the first round of the HSBC Champions golf tournament in Shanghai on November 5, 2009. (PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP)

SHANGHAI, November 5, 2009 (AFP) - World number one Tiger Woods wasn't happy Thursday with the conduct of some spectators following him at the WGC-HSBC Champions, complaining about photos being taken as he played.

World-class golf is still a new concept to many Chinese and on-course etiquette has yet to be taken on board.

Signboards were displayed around the Sheshan International Golf Course reminding fans not to use mobile phones or take pictures, but many ignored these in their quest to get a snap of the American superstar.

"There was certainly a lot of people out there. There was a lot of people moving and things," said Woods, who had at least 1,000 people following him as he fired a five-under-par 67 to be three shots off the first round lead.

"We had to stay pretty focused. The marshals did a good job helping us out and giving us an opportunity to play."

The cameras started clicking at his first hole and Woods said it put him off his swing.

"The guy in the grandstand basically did almost a photo sequence. I flinched on it and I hit it straight to the right," he said, adding that the fans' conduct didn't get better for some time.

"Not for the first six or seven holes, no. But after that, yeah."

Woods knows he will have big crowds following him wherever he goes, but it doesn't mean he likes it, or can get used to it.

"I think it's a disadvantage here because there are so many people with cameras," he said.

"The other groups probably don't have to deal with it as much as we do.

"A lot of times when we play overseas it gets that way, and you know what you have to expect. But, as I said, the marshals did a great job helping us out today."

Despite the distractions, Woods said he enjoyed playing in China and was confident etiquette would improve.

"The populace has not played golf long enough to understand yet, and that takes time," he said.