Garcia off to solid start in Hawaii

Sergio Garcia and Carl Pettersson, the only two Europeans at the Mercedes Championship, are in joint third position after the opening round in Hawaii.

The pair scored two under par 71s on the windy first day of the new US Tour season to trail 46-year-old American Olin Browne by two. World number two Vijay Singh shot 70 to lie second.

Like Singh Garcia had birdies at the 15th and 16th as he began his bid to repeat his victory in the event in 2002 and he said afterwards: “I’m pretty happy about it – it wasn’t easy by all means.

“First round of the year it’s always nice to get it under par. I had a little bit of a shaky start (three-putting the first), but then started playing a bit more consistent and made a couple nice putts when I had to.”

Pettersson qualified for the winners-only event by taking his first US Tour title at the Chrysler Championship in October and with a second place finish just a week later he did not want the old season to finish.

Now, however, he has rejoined the European tour and has become eligible for the Ryder Cup. With only 27 other players this week and just three of the world’s top 10 – Singh, Garcia and Jim Furyk – he knows it represents a great chance to make up some of the lost ground.

“I didn’t know what to expect first day, but I managed to hit more good shots than bad ones,” said the 28-year-old, who would be second in the qualifying race just ahead of Garcia if he had been picking up points from the start.

“This is now my fourth year out here and I just feel comfortable and more relaxed probably. I know that if I play well I can compete.

“Not being cocky, but I always expect to do well. First week of the year, though, you’re going to kind of go with the punches.

“I started so bad last year and lost all confidence. But then I finished 15th or something and that kind of kick-started me. I was always trying too hard before – there’s a fine line there.

“You almost have to play carefree golf. You still got to apply yourself, but almost try less. It’s a weird situation. You have to make the brain think that you don’t care, but you still got to try.

“I would say it’s probably easier to win this. In a regular event you got 156 guys playing, but here you’ve only got to beat 27.”

Browne reached five under, but then ran up a bogey six at the long 15th, while Jim Furyk would have been alongside Garcia, Pettersson, David Toms and Australian Stuart Appleby, winner the last two years, but for calling a penalty on himself on the 14th green.

Furyk’s ball moved as he prepared to try a five-footer for birdie. He then made it, but it counted for par instead.

Brad Faxon and Jason Gore look to be out of the title race already after opening with 82 and 80 respectively.