Ogilvy sets early pace in Hawaii

GOLF: Geoff Ogilvy fired a six-under-par 67 to take the first-round lead at the PGA Tour season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship in Hawaii.

Ernie Els, Kenny Perry and Johnson Wagner are all one shot back after the trio carded rounds of 68.

The 31-year-old Ogilvy managed three birdies on both the front and back nine as he mastered Kapalua's Plantation Course.

Els held a one-shot lead midway through the first round after racing to four-under par through his first six holes. The South African eagled the par-five third hole before adding another birdie at the sixth.

Els moved to six-under with birdies on the ninth and 11th before dropping a shot after bogeying the par-five 15th.

A three-time major winner, Els has won only one event since the beginning of the 2005 season.

Perry recorded an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys in his round which finished with a birdie on the par-five 18th.

Wagner enjoyed an eventful time in his 68 as the 28-year-old fired six birdies, three bogeys and sank an eagle on the 18th.

Davis Love III, Steve Lowery, Sean O'Hair and Ryuji Imada sit in a four-way tie for fourth at four-under.

With Tiger Woods still working his way back from knee surgery, the focus will be on some of last season's breakthrough players.

One to keep an eye on is Anthony Kim, who won last year's Wachovia Championship and AT&T National and earned US $4,656,265.  Kim birdied his final two holes to finish two-under with a round of 71.

Vijay Singh, who will undergo knee surgery following the completion of the tournament, shot a level-par 73.

Defending champion Daniel Chopra of Sweden finished seven-over after a disappointing 80 that included three bogeys and four double bogeys along with four birdies.

Collated first round scores in the PGA Tour Mercedes-Benz Championship, Kapalua Plantation GC, Hawaii, United States of America

(USA unless stated, par 73):

67 Geoff Ogilvy (Aus)

68 Kenny Perry, Ernie Els (Rsa), Johnson Wagner

69 Sean O'Hair, Davis Love III, Ryuji Imada (Jpn), Steve Lowery

70 Boo Weekley, D.J. Trahan

71 Anthony Kim, Zach Johnson, KJ Choi (Kor)

72 Dustin Johnson, Will MacKenzie, Richard S Johnson (Swe), Trevor Immelman (Rsa), Brian Gay, Greg Kraft, Carl Pettersson (Swe)

73 Adam Scott (Aus), Vijay Singh (Fij)

74 Justin Leonard, J.B. Holmes, Camilo Villegas (Col), Stewart Cink

75 Chez Reavie

76 Cameron Beckman

77 Parker McLachlin

78 Andres Romero (Arg), Ryan Palmer

79 Daniel Chopra (Swe), Marc Turnesa