Most of the Field at Kapalua Finds Tour Opener a Breeze

Joe Durant has never played at Kapalua. Fred Funk has never played it very well. Without the typically fierce trade winds blowing off the Maui coast, that didn’t seem to matter Thursday in the winners-only Mercedes Championships.

The Plantation Course became a scenic stroll in the first round of the PGA Tour season, leaving Durant, Funk, Steve Pate and Billy Mayfair atop the leaderboard at seven-under-par 66.

David Duval, a four-time winner in 1998 playing as if he still wants to state his case for player of the year, finished strongly on the back nine and was in the group at six-under 67 that included Billy Andrade.

Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard were among those at 68, and Tiger Woods had a wild round on a calm day and finished with a 69, along with Davis Love III and Fred Couples. Love and Couples each have won twice at Kapalua, when it hosted an unofficial event.

Mark O’Meara had a 69. Defending champion Phil Mickelson, who rarely plays in Hawaii, had a one-under 72.

This is the first PGA Tour event to be televised live in prime time on the East Coast.