Jonathan Byrd flies high with Carl Petterson to share Hawaii lead

American Jonathan Byrd and Swede Carl Petterson both shot impressive first rounds of 66 to share the leadership of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. Byrd was in fine form throughout his round, notching five birdies in the outward nine before adding an eagle two at the tenth.

He could not pick up any additional strokes along the way, with a sixth birdie at the 15th cancelled out by a lone bogey.

Petterson was two-under-par at the turn having hit three consecutive birdies between holes three and five to weigh against a bogey at the sixth.

He put together another hot streak between the tenth and 12th holes, picking up three more strokes, before adding two more birdies to finish level with Byrd on seven-under-par.

Ben Crane was on his own in third after a six-under round of 67, followed closely by Bill Haas and Charley Hoffman on 68.

A clutch of players were bunched together having signed for four-under 69s, including Australian Stuart Appleby and Italian Ryder Cup star Francesco Molinari.

Molinari's European team-mates Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell were also in action and still in contention having notched scores of 70 and 71 respectively.

Poulter hit four birdies and an eagle at the par-5 fifth but saw his score suffer from at two, 11 and 18.

McDowell also shot a mixed bag, with four birdies marred by two bogey-5s on the inward nine.