Kapalua, Hawaii (Sports Network) - When all the champions get together, it
seems as though Jonathan Byrd shines the brightest.
Byrd, attempting to defend his title at the PGA Tour's season-opening Hyundai
Tournament of Champions, began with a six-under 67 on Friday and sits alone
atop the leaderboard.
His only victory of 2011 came in a playoff win over Robert Garrigus at
Plantation Course at Kapalua, but Byrd is looking to make it two in a row
after eight birdies and two bogeys. If he were to go on to victory, Byrd would
have six PGA Tour wins in his career.
The season-opening event is four rounds like most other tournaments, except it
will end Monday evening as opposed to the traditional Sunday finish.
Invitations are extended only to those who won a tournament in the previous
year, and, after Lucas Glover's withdrawal earlier in the day, 27 entrants
teed off on Friday.
Byrd will have to keep up his hot play if he is to hold off a host of
contenders, as four players share second at five-under 68. Among those is Webb
Simpson, who is coming off a second-place performance in last year's FedEx Cup
Playoffs.
The others include 11-time PGA Tour champ Steve Stricker, Michael Bradley and
Martin Laird. PGA Champion Keegan Bradley is sixth at minus-four.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
The Sports Network