Byrd, Pettersson share PGA Tour lead

LAHAINA, Hawaii, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Jonathan Byrd and Carl Pettersson both turned in a 7-under 67 Thursday to share the lead at the Tour of Champions, the opening event on the 2011 PGA Tour.

Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy withdrew due to an injured finger, leaving 35 players to battle in a tournament open only to winners on last year's circuit.

Byrd missed six cuts in a row in the middle of last season, but won in October at Las Vegas in the final tournament he entered. It was his fourth PGA Tour victory. Pettersson also won for the fourth time, his victory coming in the Canadian Open.

They had a one-shot lead at the Kapalua Resort Plantation Course over Ben Crane and a two-shot advantage over Bill Haas, Charley Hoffman and defending FedEx Cup champion Jim Furyk.

Overnight rains softened the course and a lack of wind made for easy scoring conditions. Only two players -- Justin Rose with a 75 and Rocco Mediate with a 79 -- were over par.

Three-time champion Stuart Appleby was among those tied for seventh place at 69. Last year's leading money winner Matt Kuchar and Anthony Kim were part of the group tied with Appleby.

Graeme McDowell, the lone major championship winner from 2010 in the field, had a 71.

Phil Mickelson was the only player eligible to compete who did not make the trip to Hawaii. Tiger Woods did not qualify for the tournament because, for the first time in his career, he went an entire season without a victory.