• Sony Open 1st day

Davis Love III leads the way in Hawaii

Davis Love III came out strong on day one of the Sony Open © Getty Images

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Davis Love III fired a five-under-par 65 to claim a share of the lead after the opening round of the Sony Open.

Love III has not played a tournament in two months, but showed no signs of ring rust as he was rewarded for his consistent play with a bogey-free round. He was joined at the head of affairs by Robert Allenby, Troy Merritt, John Merrick, Ryan Palmer and defending champion Zach Johnson.

The winner of 34 professional events, Love III admitted after the round that he made his way on to the first tee with a sense of trepidation. "I was optimistic," he said. "But I was anxious about competing. Once I got it going, once I got under par … I've been out here a long time. You don't forget."

Merritt produced a strong showing in his first Tour appearance, while Allenby was pleased to negotiate his way through the testing, windy conditions given he was hampered by an ankle complaint. "My putting was the best part of the day," Allenby said. "I did hit some good shots, but my putting was good. It's the same as I left off last year."

Tom Gills was the only player not to complete his first round at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, as he opted to hold over a 25-foot eagle putt on the 18th on account of the fading light.

Sweden's Carl Petterson is the highest-placed European, one shot off the lead, while Justin Rose and Luke Donald are well off the pace after rounds of 72 and 74 respectively.

Ernie Els, striving for consistency in 2010, made four birdies but was hampered by three bogeys in a round of 69, while a mixture of birdies and bogeys were the order of the day for Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen who both shot 69s.

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