On a spectacular day of scenery and scoring on the Monterey Peninsula, Johnson blasted a tee shot on the third hole at Pebble Beach and then pitched in for eagle from 41 yards in front of the green. He added another eagle on his way to a 9-under 63 and a three-way tie for first place Thursday.
Woods was five shots to par out of the lead, a solid start to his PGA Tour season. He had six birdies in a 4-under 68 at Spyglass Hill.
Charlie Wi’s 9-under 61 at Monterey Peninsula included pars on his last three holes.
Joining them was ex-U.S. Amateur winner Danny Lee, who also had a pair of wedge shots for eagle to match Johnson at 9-under 63.
ELSEWHERE
Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello shot a 9-under 63 to take a two-shot lead at the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic. … American Stacy Lewis shot a 4-under 69 to share the first-round lead at the Women’s Australian Open .
