Bae grabs early lead at Sony Open

HONOLULU (AP) ― Bae Sang-moon made seven birdies in pristine conditions along the shores of Oahu for a bogey-free 63 and the early lead in the Sony Open on Thursday.

Bae needed every one of them to stay ahead of Chris Kirk, who was in his group.

Kirk rallied for a 29 on the back nine of Waialae Country Club and was one shot behind among the early starters in the U.S. PGA Tour’s first full-field event of the year. Bae and Kirk had a better-ball score of 56.

Both opened 2014 on Maui last week in the Tournament of Champions.

John Daly was in the group at 66. Adam Scott, with surfer Benji Weatherly taking over as his caddie this week, was in the group at 67.