KAPALUA, Hawaii, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Jonathan Byrd ran off six straight birdies on the front nine Friday and took a one-shot lead after one round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
Byrd, trying to win this event for the second year in a row, shot a 6-under 67 in gusty breezes on the first day of the PGA Tour season at the Kapalua Resort Plantation Course.
He made putts ranging from 4 feet to 29 feet on the third through eighth holes and then had his run stopped with a bogey at the relatively easy par-5 ninth.
Michael Bradley, Martin Laird, Webb Simpson and Steve Stricker shared second place at 68 while current PGA champion Keegan Bradley was alone in sixth after firing a 69.
Byrd was 24-under par for four rounds in winning last year. He did not have another victory in 2011, although he lost in a playoff to Lucas Glover at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, N.C.
