Friday 6 February 2015 08:59, UK
Nicholas Thompson is the early leader at the weather-affected Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego, where former world No 1 Tiger Woods was forced to withdraw because of injury.
Thompson, teeing-up on the North Course, carded an eight-under-par 64 after hitting 16 greens in regulation at Torrey Pines.
The 32-year-old American opened with an eagle three at the first and followed that by posting a birdie at the second.
The only blemish came via a bogey at the 12th and, after 18 holes, leads Michael Thompson by one stroke.
Because of early-morning fog, which delayed the start by more than two hours, not all of the field were able to complete their opening rounds – around 40 are yet to finish.
Last week’s winner Brooks Koepka is in a tie for third, two shots off the pace, while Englishman Ian Poulter is a stroke further adrift.
Only one of the leading 10 players to have completed their rounds – Jhonattan Vegas (67) – was playing on the much more difficult South Course, where the final 36 holes will be contested over the weekend.
Phil Mickelson, a three-time winner of the tournament, was at one-over-par through 15 holes on the South when play was halted.
Dustin Johnson, making his first Tour start since last July's Canadian Open, was two over with one hole to play on the South Course, while former world No 1 Woods pulled out with back pain after struggling through 11 holes on the North.
Yet early leader Nicholas Thompson is happy to have three rounds remaining on the South – providing, as expected, he makes the cut.
He said: "Between the two golf courses the North Course has always been my nemesis in relation to the field. So it's nice to get a good start there.
"I mean, it's in perfect condition. All the sight lines are good, the fairways are defined well, and I mean it just looks great. The greens are the best I've seen the North Course since I turned pro 10 years ago here.
"It's not so much the way the North Course looks, it's how good the South Course looks.
"And it just feels really good when I step up on it. I don't think there's one shot out there that I look at and I go, 'oh, I dread this shot all day'. No, you just know you got to go out there and hit good golf shots."
