Leishman Leads at Kapalua after First Round

Once again the PGA Tour jumpstarts at the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Hawaii for the Sentry Tournament of Champions. The Big Island is a far cry from the Northeast this week where half a foot to a foot of snow has been dropped on much of the region. However, we can stay huddled in our homes while watching the few chosen and proven Champions and best players in the game today. News of Tiger Woods confirming guaranteed starts at both the Farmers Insurance Open and the Genesis Open is another positive sign that adds on to Wood’s promising performance in the Bahamas.

Chris Stroud lead early at 3 under after a first nine 2 under 34 and finding a birdie on the twelfth hole. Si-Woo Kim and Brendan Steele are giving chase to Stroud, just one back. Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are once again playing together. Another featured group is Rickie Fowler and Hideki Matsuyama. Much is expected from both of these groups with so much talent and ability.

Marc Leishman of Australia reacts on the 15th green during the first…

Marc Leishman of Australia reacts on the 15th green during the first round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club on January 4, 2018 in Lahaina, Hawaii. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

After the first round it’s the Aussie Marc Leishman leading the pack with a one stroke lead over the likes of Brian Harmon, who put together a bogey free 5 under 68. Rickie Fowler, who was sporting a Hawaii appropriate shirt for the first round sits at 4 under sharing T4 with Dustin Johnson. Kevin Kisner has had some promising rounds on tour since first breaking out and making a name for himself when he was in the three way epic playoff with now Callaway sponsored Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler at the players when Fowler stole the show. Kisner had a round with a bit of everything complete with 3 bogeys, 4 birdies and finished his first round with an eagle on 18. Kisner sits at 3 under accompanied by Billy Horschel and Hideki Matsuyama.

The ASU graduate Jon Rahm struggled most of the day but managed to salvage a 2 under 71. The man that everyone is thinking about, especially after his run at this time of last year is Justin Thomas. JT was playing with good friend and British Open Champion Jordan Spieth. The two had some rather quiet rounds. Thomas managing a 2 under round of 71, while Spieth fell behind to 2 over par. Going even on the first nine and never really getting into a rhythm Spieth had 2 bogeys with 7 pars on the back. A rather disappointing first round for the featured group of the day. Spieth has a lot of work to do if he wants to get back into contention. However, the most surprising first round belongs to the defending US Open Champion Brooks Koepka. Koepka opened with bogey, bogey, double bogey, bogey in his first four holes of the day. He settled down and was able to find some pars and his first and only birdie on the twelfth hole. He would finish with a 5 over 78.

As everyone in the northeast is digging out the weekend is beginning and once again golf is back. We start in paradise at the Plantation Course, but in the back of our minds we are looking forward as the Tour will soon move to locations such as Florida, California, Arizona and finally to the south and once again to Georgia for the long awaited Masters Tournament. As we all begin to have flashes of the green and manicured fairways and past Masters, spring and Augusta National are right around the corner.

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