Los Angeles (AFP)
The young Chilean Joaquin Niemann took control of the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Thursday, counting for the North American Professional Golf Circuit (PGA).
On the Plantation to Kapalua course, Niemann, haloed by his participation in the Presidents Cup - lost - at just 21 years old, returned a card of 66, seven shots under par, thanks to seven birdies.
He overtook the Americans Justin Thomas (67), Matt Kuchar (68) and Rickie Fowler (68) at the end of the first of four rounds. The defending champion, the American Xander Schauffele, returned a card of 69 and is provisionally fifth, tied with four other participants.
The Tournament of Champions brings together the winners of last season's tournaments and unofficially kicks off the new season.
The leaders of the classification after the 1st round (par 73):
1. Joaquin Niemann (CHI) 66
2. Justin Thomas (USA) 67
3. Matt Kuchar (USA) 68
. Rickie Fowler (USA) 68
5. Tyler Duncan (USA) 69
. Matthew Wolff (USA) 69
. Patrick Cantlay (USA) 69
. Jon Rahm (ESP) 69
. Xander Schauffele (USA) 69
10. JT Poston (USA) 70
11. Brendon Todd (USA) 71
. Lanto Griffin (USA) 71
. Nate Lashley (USA) 71
. Collin Morikawa (USA) 71
. Ryan Palmer (USA) 71
16. Sebastian Munoz (COL) 72
. Dylan Frittelli (RSA) 72
. Kang Sung (KOR) 72
. Dustin Johnson (USA) 72
. Patrick Reed (USA) 72
. Kevin Kisner (USA) 72
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