|
 Thompson birdied five of the last eight holes for a
seven-under-par 66 in breezy conditions at the picturesque Kapalua
Resort in Hawaii to seize the early lead at the elite, winners-only
event.
However, Thompson was caught at the top by a red-hot Kirk, who piled
up five consecutive birdies from the 14th, and then Spieth, who
calmly rolled in a 12-footer on the 18th green for his seventh
birdie in a bogey-free round.
Late in the day, 2012 U.S. Open champion Simpson made it a four-way
share of the lead after recording three birdies in the last four
holes at Kapalua's undulating Plantation Course.
"I played really well," Thompson, who booked his place in the
prestigious field of 30 with his maiden PGA Tour victory at last
year's Honda Classic, told Golf Channel after mixing eight birdies
with a lone bogey.
"I stuck to my game plan today which was to stay in the present,
stay in the moment, visualize my shots really clearly and I
executed. So it was a fun day."
Spieth, the 2013 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year after a sensational
campaign that included a maiden win at the John Deere Classic and
total earnings of just under $4 million, said he was "humbled" to be
in the elite field at Kapalua.
"It's amazing," the 20-year-old Texan smiled. "It's an
accomplishment just to be here in the first place, and I am humbled
to play alongside these 29 other guys that are champions from the
past year. "It's good fun. To play Kapalua, a course I've watched for so
many years, and then finally being able to be here, it's a cool
experience for me."
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Jason Dufner, winner of last year's PGA Championship, opened
with a 67 to end the opening round level with fellow Americans
Ryan Moore, Zach Johnson and Kevin Streelman.
Streelman, who secured his spot at Kapalua with his first PGA
Tour win at last year's Tampa Bay Championship, had been a
stroke in front at eight under with two holes to play before
going bogey-bogey.
"I think as a professional golfer you try and be as mature as
you can about that and really look at the positives, what I did
well today," Streelman, who had earlier eagled the third and
fifth, said of his faltering finish.
"I hit some awesome shots and putted the ball really well. It's
just day one and I'm in a good position on the board."
Masters champion and world number two Adam Scott of Australia
mixed five birdies with two bogeys to card a 70, finishing level
with playing partner Dustin Johnson after teeing off in the
day's marquee pairing.
Long-hitting American Johnson triumphed by three shots last year
in a tournament reduced to three rounds and forced to a rare
Tuesday finish because of relentless howling winds at Kapalua.
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles;
editing by
Greg Stutchbury)
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