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Patrick Reed leads after first round of Hyundai TOC

January 07, 2016

The defending champion of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Patrick Reed, picked up right where he left off the year prior at the Plantation Course at Kapalua, Hawaii. Tied with his playing partner Jordan Spieth for the last few holes of the back nine at six under, Reed eagled the par-5 18th hole to secure a one-shot lead over Spieth. Reed finished with a bogey-free eight-under 65, featuring six birdies and one eagle. He hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation, and four of the birdies and the eagle came on the back nine.

Spieth, the reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year, continued the consistency he showed in his record-setting 2015 season, shooting a seven-under 66. After winning five tournaments a year ago, including his first two majors, Spieth is extending the success he had in 2015.

"This is just -- we're just continuing -- the month changed, the year changed. When you write the date, that's about it in my mind," Spieth said earlier in the week. "I think we've just had a little bit of a break, and I've had plenty of playing and practice to be plenty ready to try and win this week and then take our game over to Asia in a couple weeks, then I'll come back here and get to my normal schedule."

Spieth's round featured seven birdies and no bogeys, as well as hitting 17 of 18 greens in regulation.

The first PGA Tour tournament of 2016 also saw a number of faces not among the top-ranked players in the world grace the leader board in a tournament that features exclusively winners from 2015.

Brandt Snedeker was a bright spot among them, shooting a six-under 67 that placed him tied for third. His round included six birdies and no bogeys and lead for a good amount of the day until Reed and Spieth overtook him on their 18th hole. Three of his birdies came consecutively on the back nine, and he hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation.

J.B. Holmes also shot a 67 and is tied with Snedeker in third. His round featured one bogey and seven birdies, five of which came on the back nine.

Danny Lee, the Australian who qualified by winning last year's Greenbrier Classic, also shot a six-under 67 that featured no bogeys.

Other players within range of the leader include Fabian Gomez (five-under 68, sixth place) and Brooks Koepka, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Jimmy Walker and Kevin Kisner (four-under 69s, tied for seventh).