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Reed leads first round in Hawaii, Spieth 1 back

 
Published Jan. 8, 2016

KAPALUA, Hawaii — Patrick Reed had three eagle attempts Thursday and made the last one for 8-under 65 and a one-shot lead over Jordan Spieth in the Tournament of Champions.

Reed is the defending champion at Kapalua and has top 10s in his past six tournaments around the world.

Most of the attention was on Spieth, coming off a blockbuster year that included two majors.

Spieth and Reed were part of a five-way tie for the lead on the par-5 18th on the Plantation Course when Reed drilled a 3-wood onto the green and let the grain take it to 15 feet. He made the putt to cap off 31 on the back nine.

Brandt Snedeker, J.B. Holmes and Danny Lee were at 67.

Spieth, the world's top-ranked player, ended last year with four straight top 10s on the PGA Tour — victory in the Tour Championship, tie for seventh in the HSBC Champions, tie for second in the Australian Open and fourth in the Hero World Challenge.

But he could fall to No. 2 this week. Jason Day, who hasn't played an individual tournament since East Lake on Sept. 27, can replace Spieth at No. 1 by winning the 33-player invitational. He also could move to No. 1 if he finishes runnerup alone and Spieth is outside the top five, or if Day is tied for second and Spieth is out the top 15. Day opened with 3-under 70.

NEW YEAR'S INVITATIONAL: Philip Knowles shot 68 for the first-round lead in the Championship Division at St. Petersburg Country Club. Josh Augus, Joey Lane, Andrew McCain and Joe Alfieri were in a group one shot back in the four-day event.