American Matt Kuchar made the most of perfect early conditions to grab a one-shot lead in a light-interrupted opening round of the US PGA Tour event at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.
Kuchar fired a bogey free seven-under-par 64 in the morning wave to be one clear of Spanish star Sergio Garcia, who manufactured an impressive 65 in the afternoon despite fog and cooling temperatures.
A total of 18 players were unable to finish their first round due to darkness.
Afternoon players were also left to deal with increasingly bumpy greens, as foot traffic played havoc with the poa annua surfaces, a trademark of this tournament.
American Brandt Jobe sits third after shooting 66 while Greg Chalmers and Marc Leishman led the Australian tilt after posting 69s to be tied 18th.
“It was a great day. It’s always fun to have bogey-free days especially around this golf course,” Kuchar said.
“I got off to a great start, birdied my first three and all were kick in birdies.
“I just drove it well today which is a big key around here.”
Leishman opened his round with a two-putt birdie on the par five first but stumbled with bogeys on the fourth and fifth holes.
The Victorian rolled in a 14-foot birdie on the par three sixth to get back to level par before making his move on the back nine.
He carded four birdies in a six-hole stretch between 11-16 including a holed bunker shot on the 14th.
But just when he’d moved inside the top five disaster struck on the par five 17th, where he four-putted from 15 feet, missing three three-foot attempts.
“I played good for most of the day and drove the ball really well but unfortunately missed quite a few short putts,” Leishman said.
“Hopefully I can play the way I did today and make some putts tomorrow to shoot a low one, it’s definitely out there.”
Chalmers round had five birdies, including a chip in, and three bogeys.
In his first round of 2013 Adam Scott started on fire with an eagle and added two birdies but countered with two bogeys and a double bogey for an even par 71 and a tie for 48th.
It was a particularly rough day for rest of the Australians with John Senden the best of the bunch with a one-over 72.
Stuart Appleby (+2), 2001 champion Robert Allenby (+5), Geoff Ogilvy (+5) and 2011 champion Aaron Baddeley (+7) all struggled in near perfect early conditions and will have a tough time to make the weekend.
