Four Share Lead in Tournament of Champions


Michael Thompson, Chris Kirk, Jordan Spieth and Webb Simpson each carded 7-under 66s to take the opening-round lead of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. The $5.7 million PGA Tour event began Friday at the Plantation Course at Kapalua on Maui, Hi.

In the 30-man tournament in which only the year's previous winners qualify, Thompson - the Honda Classic champion last March, posted eight birdies and a bogey, the same numbers posted by McGladrey Classic winner Kirk, who closed with five birdies in a row from the 14th hole on.

The 20-year-old Spieth, the tour's 2013 Rookie of the Year, boasted a flawless card with seven birdies, and Simpson had eight birdies and a bogey on the Coore-Crenshaw-designed Plantation course.

One stroke behind the pacesetters are Ryan Moore, Kevin Streelman, Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson, while Matt Kuchar had a 68 and South Korea's Sang-Moon Bae a 69.

Streelman, winner of the Tampa Bay Classic last March, had the shot of the day when the 35-year-old from Illinois holed his 97-yard approach on the par-4 third hole for an eagle.

Sharing 11th after 70s on the par-73 course are Ken Duke, Brian Gay, Patrick Reed, Harris English, Brandt Snedeker, 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott and the tournament's defending champion, Dustin Johnson.

Posting 71s were Scotland's Martin Laird, Scott Brown, John Merrick, Boo Weekley, Bill Haas and Gary Woodland. Woody Austin, Russell Henley, D.A. Points and Billy Horschel carded 72s. Jimmy Walker (73), Jonas Blixt (76) and Derek Ernst (79) rounded out the leaderboard.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.