KAPALUA, Hawaii, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Mike Weir, who won the final PGA Tour event of 2001, opened the 2002 season by matching the course record with a 10-under 63 Thursday to take a three shot lead at the Mercedes Championship.
The season-opening tournament invites only those who won a tour event last year and Weir got in by capturing the Tour Championship.
The Canadian left hander fired a 29 on the first nine at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Bay and wound up taking the lead over Frank Lickliter, who birdied the par-5 18th to get to 7-under 66.
Those at 67 included Cameron Beckman, Chris DiMarco, Scott Verplank, defending champion Jim Furyk and 2001 British Open champion David Duval.
Tiger Woods, Player of the Year on the tour four of the last five years, began his year with a 5-under 68 that left him tied for eighth with Kenny Perry. U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen shot 69 and PGA Championship winner David Toms turned in the same score.
Weir birdied eight of the first 10 holes and two of the last eight.
"I just kept hitting it close to the hole," Weir said. "I think I had four holes where all I had to do was tap it in for birdie. You are lucky to have two of those in a tournament and I had four of them in the first eight holes."
