Cantlay, Reed share lead; host Tiger trails at Hero World Challenge

Patrick Cantlay and Patrick Reed shot a matching seven-under 65 to share the lead after the opening day of the Hero World Challenge golf tournament here.

Cantlay, who has never played the Albany course and got an invite for the event barely two weeks ago, produced a flawless card, while Reed, who won the Masters this year, had eight birdies against one bogey late Thursday evening.

They were three shots clear of the field as Henrik Stenson, who has been hit by injuries this season, shared the third place with Dustin Johnson, who was dislodged from the World No. 1 spot in October. They carded four-under 68 each.

South African born Englishman, Justin Rose, who has made Bahamas his home, comes into this week needing to finish Tied-third or better to regain his World No.1 spot, which is currently in possession of the absent Brooks Koepka.

Rose had a superb eagle on par-5 11th, where he smashed his wood from the fairway to two feet off the pin and tapped it in.

He double bogeyed the next ...