Watney grabs lead after first round of US PGA opener

KAPALUA, Hawaii (AFP) — American Nick Watney fired a five-under par 68 here Thursday to seize a one-stroke lead over Sweden's Daniel Chopra after the first round of the US PGA season-opening Mercedes Championship.

Watney made six birdies against a lone bogey at the Plantation course to grab the lead in a field of 31 winners from last season that did not include world number one Tiger Woods or second-ranked Phil Mickelson.

Their absence until a showdown later this month at the Buick Invitational in Torrey Pines dimmed the interest in this 5.5 million-dollar event but big names were still on hand in quest of a 1.1 million-dollar top prize.

Watney began a run of three birdies in a row at the third hole to seize a quick lead and answered a bogey at the seventh with a birdie at the ...