Jordan Spieth, picking up where he left off in his brilliant rookie year, capped a run of four birdies in the last five holes with a 12-foot putt on the final hole to shoot 7-under-par 66 and tie Webb Simpson, Chris Kirk and Michael Thompson for the lead after one round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua.
The 20-year-old Spieth, who went from no status on any tour a year ago at this time to earning a spot on the United States team for the Presidents Cup, played bogey-free in his initial competitive trip around the Plantation Course in the first PGA Tour event of 2014.
“It’s amazing,” Spieth said of his first time playing the course. “I played nine holes first two days here and it’s tough not take just in sites; it’s hard focus. You have to just enjoy being here.
“In the first place, its humbling to be here playing alongside the 29 other champions from the previous year. It’s good fun play to play Kapalua, a course I’ve watched for so many years and to finally be here, it’s a cool experience for me.”
Simpson, who captured the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in October for his first victory since the 2012 U.S. Open, carded his only bogey of the day at No. 7.
Kirk, who claimed his second PGA Tour victory last year in the McGladrey Classic, birdied his last five holes to overcome his only bogey of the day at No. 10.
Thompson, whose only victory on the circuit came last year in the Honda Classic, birdied four of the last five holes after recording his only bogey, also at No. 10.
Kevin Streelman holed his second shot from 97 yards for eagle on the third hole and sank a 16-foot putt for another eagle two holes later, but closed with two straight bogeys and was tied for fifth at 67 with Ryan Moore, Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson.
Adam Scott, ranked second in the World Golf Rankings after a career year in 2013, opened with a 70 and was in a tie for 11th that included Brandt Snedeker and defending champion Dustin Johnson.
