Seven in tie for lead

Danny Ellis and Jason Bohn fired rounds of eight-under-par 63 and are in a group of seven golfers tied for the lead after the first round of the Michelin Championship.

Ellis, who was runner-up at the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament last year, carded a bogey-free round at the Canyons course. He birdied four consecutive holes starting with the par-five fourth.

Bohn also played the Canyons course and recorded nine birdies en route to the first opening-round lead of his career. The only blemish on his scorecard was a bogey on the par-five sixth hole.

Scott Verplank, Harrison Frazar, Kent Jones, Steve Lowery and Billy Mayfair all are tied for the lead after rounds of eight-under on par-72 courses.

Verplank and Frazar played the Summerlin course while Jones, Lowery and Mayfair completed their opening rounds on Bear’s Best.

In a move to accommodate players returning to the United States from the World Golf Championships-American Express Championship in Ireland, the event was shortened from 90 holes to 72 for the first time in its 22-year history.

Another alteration to the Las Vegas event is the addition of Bear’s Best Golf Club as a trio of courses will be utilised during the week. Bear’s Best is a Jack Nicklaus-designed course that will be a tournament site for the first time.

Justin Leonard and Tom Lehman are in a group of five golfers one shot back in a tie for eighth. Danny Briggs, Robin Freeman and Brett Quigley join Leonard and Lehman at seven under.