Reed pips Spieth for lead in Hawaii

Reed played his last six holes in six-under par to seize the lead.

Los Angeles - Spieth, off to a solid start in his mission to carry his scintillating 2015 form seamlessly into the new year, birdied the last to cap a 66.

By AFP

Published: Fri 8 Jan 2016, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Sat 9 Jan 2016, 11:04 AM

Defending champion Patrick Reed eagled the 18th hole on Thursday to pip world number one Jordan Spieth for the first-round lead at the US PGA Tour Tournament of Champions in Hawaii. Reed, who has six top-10 finishes in his last six tournaments around the world, played his last six holes in six-under par to seize the lead with an eight-under par total of 65 on the par-73 Plantation Course at Kapalua.
Spieth, off to a solid start in his mission to carry his scintillating 2015 form seamlessly into the new year, birdied the last to cap a 66.
Both were part of a five-way tie for the lead as they arrived at the par-five 18th, where Reed fired his second shot to 16 feet and made the putt. New Zealand's Danny Lee finished tied with Americans Brandt Snedeker and J.B. Holmes on 67, with Argentina's Fabian Gomez alone in sixth on 68.
Spieth, whose stellar 2015 campaign included five victories, two of them majors, drained a 30-foot birdie putt at the second hole to get his 2016 on track.
"It's just a day to get into a rhythm, kind of see where everything's at," said Spieth, the Masters and US Open champion.
"Everything feels pretty good. I just need to tighten the gap a little, maybe have a couple better looks at birdie. But I can't complain."
"If I do what I did today each day, we're in good business," added Spieth, who had seven birdies in his bogey-free round.
Reed picked up just two birdies on his outward run and said the second, at the par-five ninth, was a turning point.
Australia's Jason Day, whose five victories in 2015 included a major breakthrough at the PGA Championship, opened with a three-under par 70.