Hyundai Tournament of Champions 2014: Jordan Spieth tied for the 1st round lead

Although the 2014 PGA Tour season technically began in October, the season unofficially kicked off on Friday in Hawaii with the first round of the annual Tournament of Champions. Four players are tied for the lead at 7-under, including Jordan Spieth and Webb Simpson.

Spieth made the turn at 2-under, but played bogey-free and closed the round well. He birdied four of his final five holes, including a birdie at downhill 18th to move to 7-under and into a share of the lead. Spieth played with Simpson, who also clinched a share of the lead with a birdie at No. 18. They are joined at 7-under by Michael Thompson and Chris Kirk.

Thompson played a solid opening round, carding eight birdies. A bogey at No. 10 was the only blemish of the day. Kirk was just 2-under on the round through 13 holes before a dominant closing stretch. He birdied his final five holes to rocket up the leaderboard and into a share of the lead.

Kevin Streelman held the lead for much of the day, but he faltered down the stretch. He got his round off to a very quick start. He carded an eagle on the third hole and followed it with another eagle at No. 5 to drop to 5-under through five holes. The defending Tampa Bay Chapionship winner was in the lead at 8-under through 16 holes before a bogey-bogey finish dropped him to 6-under and in a tie for fifth.

PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner is also in the mix after the first round. He’s tied for fifth place at 6-under. Dufner made the turn in 30, with four birdies and an eagle on his opening nine. It was nearly a double eagle for golf’s last major winner.

Dufner parred all nine holes on the back nine to finish with a 67.

Conditions were prime for scoring with 27 of 30 players in the field finishing the day in the red. It wasn’t all smooth sailing, however. Derek Ernst, the unknown longshot winner at Quail Hollow last year, struggled in the opening round, shooting a 6-over 79. He’s now 13 strokes off the lead. Scott Brown shot a 2-under 71, although he hit one of the worst shots of the day (and potentially the season, even though we’re just 18 holes in).

Here is a complete look at the first-round leaderboard:

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