Defending champion Nick Taylor earned a share of the lead at eight under, along with Kevin Roy, after the opening day of the PGA Tour season at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Taylor, who won the playoff last year, and the early starters caught the break when the wind arrived just after noon. The Canadian was sharp with his irons and expertly made a pair of threes at Waialae Country Club for an opening 62.
“I think we were lucky with the forecast this morning. I was expecting a bit more wind,” Taylor said. “A lot of wind goes with the leg, so it felt like some of the tee shots might not have been as challenging.”
Nick Taylor won the Sony Open in Hawaii last year
Roy had seven birdies in 11 holes to start his round, before finishing with a birdie on the par-5 18th to help him earn his share of the lead.
This is the latest start to the PGA Tour season after the Sentry at Kapalua, Maui, was canceled due to water issues.
The tournament attracted four of the world’s top 10, although none of the top three of Scotty Scheffler, Rory McIlroy or Tommy Fleetwood participated.
World number seven, Scot Robert McIntyre, is five off the pace after a first-round 67.
SH Kim played his final three holes of the round bogey-free for a 67, the same score as playing partners Ben Griffin, coming off a three-win season and Ryder Cup debut, and Scottish Open champion Chris Gutterup. All three sit one stroke ahead of the lead, alongside John VanDerLaan.
Vijay Singh, a 62-year-old Hall of Famer who took advantage of a one-time career cash waiver, carded two double bogeys and still shot a 68 to sit under. Jordan Spieth also shot a 68 after a round that featured six birdies to four bogeys.
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