Hawaii, Jan 10: Ernie Els of South Africa and Jim Furyk, both of whom have histories of playing well in Hawaii, carded 9-under-par 64s for a share of the first-round lead at the season-opening Mercedes Championships. Els, the third-ranked player in the world and defending British Open champion, overcame a double-bogey with two eagles and seven birdies on the unusually benign Plantation Course. Well before Els signed his scorecard, Furyk shot a bogey-free 64 that included an eagle and seven birdies. With Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson - the world's top-ranked players - skipping the event, Els and Furyk were considered favorites. But they also have history on their side. Els never has won in Hawaii, but he lost a playoff to Woods here in 2000 and was third the following season. Furyk won this event in 2001, finished fourth last year and claimed the United Airlines Hawaiian Open in 1996.


Chris Riley, Gene Sauers and Jerry Kelly are a stroke off the lead after carding 65s. Bob Estes and Shigeki Maruyama of Japan are another shot back.


With conditions favoring the players, only four golfers in the 36-man winners-only field failed to break par. One of them was up-and-coming star Charles Howell III, who settled for a 73.


Other notables include Vijay Singh of Fiji at 68, Retief Goosen of South Africa at 70 and defending champion Sergio Garcia of Spain at 71.


The field consists of tournament winners from last season. Woods is missing as he recovers from knee surgery and Mickelson is on a ski trip with his family.


Bureau Report