Defending champ tied for lead in Hawaii

HONOLULU, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Defending champion Zach Johnson shot a 5-under par 65 in windy conditions Thursday to finish in a six-way tie at the top after one round of the Sony Open.

Geoff Ogilvy successfully defended his title last week in the opening event of the PGA Tour season and Johnson is trying to do the same thing in the first full-field tournament of the season.

He was tied with Robert Allenby, Ryan Palmer, Davis Love III, John Merrick and Troy Merritt, who won the tour's qualifying tournament last month. Love, a 20-time winner on the circuit, has just one victory since 2006.

The wind was at its strongest in the morning at the Waialae Country Club but there was enough breeze in the afternoon to keep anyone from posting an exceptionally low score.

There were 10 players at 66, including current Masters champion Angel Cabrera, 50-year-old Tom Lehman and Steve Stricker, the world's third-ranked player.

Another 50-year-old, Michael Allen, was among those at 67. Often troubled John Daly, hoping to make a comeback after putting himself through a strenuous fitness program, shot a 73.