Tournament of champions: Jon Rahm leads European challenge in Hawaii

The tournament is organized at the Plantation Course in Kapalua, which has been tweaked since last year's event. Tournament of Champions-7 Niemann (Chi); -6 Thomas (USA); -5 Kuchar (USA), Fowler (USA); -4 Duncan, Wolff. Cantlay, Schauffle (all US) Rahm (Spa) Selected others: -1 Reed (US), Johnson (US); +1 McDowell (NI), Casey (Eng)

Jon Rahm in Spain is three shots ahead after the first round of the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

The number three in the world, which ended last year as the top golf of the European Tour, is fifth in the event for players who won the PGA Tour in 2019.

Joaquin Niemann from Chile shot a seven-under 66 to lead American Justin Thomas one, with compatriots Matt Kuchar and Rickie Fowler five-under.

Graeme McDowell from Northern Ireland and Paul Casey from England are both one left.

Niemann was part of the international team that lost to the United States in the Presidential Cup last month and the 21-year-old says that, despite not winning a game during the game, he was invaluable .

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"I think the Presidential Cup was huge for me, for my career, for my future," he said.

"I think I learned a lot that week, I was with the best players in the world, I was a teammate with Adam Scott. I talked a lot with them. It was an incredible week."

Former world number one and twice winner Dustin Johnson had a roller coaster round, carded five birdies and an eagle along with a double-bogey seven in the par-five ninth and four bogeys on their way to a one-under 72.