Fiji’s former world No. 1 Vijay Singh on Thursday fired a bogey-free seven-under-par 63 to seize a share of the first-round lead at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
The 52-year-old veteran turned back the clock with seven birdies on the par-70 Waialae Country Club to share the lead in the first full-field event of the year with US golfers Ricky Barnes, Morgan Hoffmann, Kevin Kisner and Brandt Snedeker.
Singh, seeking his first US Tour title since the Deutsche Bank Championship in 2008, is bidding to become the oldest PGA Tour winner.
If he holds on, he would narrowly eclipse the record held by Sam Snead, who was 52 years, 10 months and eight days old when he won the 1965 Greater Greensboro Open.
“I was feeling good about my body, my swing, my mind,” Singh told the Golf Channel. “I scrambled very well.”
Although he has not found the winner’s circle in some time, Singh said he does not feel it is out of reach.
“I feel like I can come out and win any tournament if I play well,” he said. “It has been the same way for the last five, six years.”
“I just haven’t produced the scores that I want to produce, but I’m always optimistic about my next day, my next round, my next tournament,” he added.
Of the five coleaders, Snedeker and Kisner were the only afternoon starters. Snedeker seemed to lose the momentum of an eagle at the 10th with his lone bogey of the day at 14.
However, he followed that with back-to-back birdies.
Kisner grabbed his share of the lead with a birdie at 18.
The leading group was one stroke in front of a trio of players on a tightly bunched leaderboard, with Open Championship winner Zach Johnson, US golfer Charles Howell and South Korea’s Kim Si-woo tied on 64.
Another former world No. 1, Luke Donald of England, headed a group of 11 on 65.
The US’ Jimmy Walker, seeking an unprecedented third straight title at Waialae, opened his title defense with a 69.
JOBURG OPEN
AFP, JOHANNESBURG
Justin Walters on Thursday birdied the last to take a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Joburg Open.
The 35-year-old South African shot a seven-under-par 65 on the East Course at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club after a round that featured six birdies, an eagle at the par-five sixth and a single bogey.
Walters’ birdie at the long 18th had looked unlikely when he put his second shot into a bunker, but he got up and down from the sand to take hold of the lead.
He took a one-stroke advantage from a group of six players on six-under-par comprised of English duo Antony Wall and David Howell, local Haydn Porteous, Swedish pair Johan Carlsson and Michael Jonzon and Zimbabwe’s Mark Williams.
Porteous, Carlsson and Jonzon all went six-under 66 around the tougher East Course, while Howell, Wall and Williams carded 65s on the par-71 West layout.
There is extra incentive for the field of 210 players, with three places available at this year’s Open Championship at Troon to players who finish in the top 10 and are not already exempt.
“Every time you come here, you build new memories and you have more to draw on when you’re kind of in the same position,” Walters said.
Playing the Joburg Open for the first time, two-time former Open champion Ernie Els shot a one-under 70 on the West Course.
EURASIA CUP
AP, KUALA LUMPUR
Europe yesterday grabbed a 4.5 to 1.5 lead over Asia in the EurAsia Cup after the opening day at Glenmarie Golf and Country Club.
Bernd Wiesberger and Ian Poulter notched five birdies and an eagle to beat Anirban Lahiri and Wang Jeung-hun four and three in the first four-ball match, then Kristoffer Broberg and Ross Fischer doubled that advantage.
The six and four victory over Kim Kyung-tae and Prayad Marksaeng looked to put Europe in cruise control, but Asia came back through Byeong Hun-an and Thongchai Jaidee, who upstaged Danny Willett and Matthew Fitzpatrick three and one.
However, Europe regained a two-point advantage thanks to a two and one success through Shane Lowry and Andy Sullivan.
Despite the local cheers for Danny Chia and Nicholas Fung, who took turns trading birdies on the back nine to earn Asia half a point, Lee Westwood and Chris Wood made sure Europe ended the day on a high by beating Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Shiv Chawrasia two and one.
“We know we are in the driving seat after today, but we need to keep up this performance,” Sullivan said. “We all know what happened the last time, and what the Asian team are capable off.”
At the inaugural event in 2014, Asia trailed Europe 5-0 on the opening day, before storming back to force a 10-10 draw and share the trophy.
Thai stalwart Thongchai, who captained the team in that tournament, was confident a good showing today would set the tone for another remarkable comeback.
“Tomorrow will be very important,” Thongchai said. “If we get some points and score some in the singles, it will make for a great spectacle. Our team are quite well set up for Asia to make a comeback.”
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