Defending champ Byrd leads at Kapalua

KAPALUA, Hawaii: Defending champion Jonathan Byrd reeled off six birdies in a row on Friday en route to a six-under par 67 and a one-shot lead in the US PGA Tour's season-opening Tournament of Champions.

Byrd, whose round on the par-73 Plantation Course included eight birdies overall and two bogeys, had a one-shot lead over four players: Scotland's Martin Laird, Steve Stricker, Webb Simpson and Michael Bradley.

The field, open only to last season's title winners, was reduced to 27 on Friday when former US Open champion Lucas Glover withdrew with a sprained knee.

Glover hurt himself in a paddleboard accident last weekend and had already said he was not sure he would be able to compete.

Three of the four reigning major champions had already opted out, with Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland and Charl Schwartzel of South Africa bypassing the $5.6 million event.

Keegan Bradley, the American who captured his first major title at the PGA
Championship last August, carded a first-round 69.

South Korean K.J. Choi was a further shot back on 70. (AFP)