Zozo Championship: Justin Thomas Takes One-Time Leadership

Justin Thomas -14 J Thomas (USA); -13 D Frittelli (SA), L Griffin (US); -12 P Cantlay (US), S Scheffler (US) Selected: -11 T Hatton (Eng), -10 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), S. Munoz (Col), J Rose (Eng); -6 T Fleetwood (Eng); -4 P. Casey (Eng), R McIlroy (NI); -2 T Woods (USA)

Justin Thomas, who is aiming for this third PGA Tour title of the year, has a one-shot lead to take the weekend at the Zozo Championship in California.

After starting the day second with England's Tyrrell Hatton, the 27-year-old American cut his first hole before making four consecutive birdies.

The 2017 US PGA Champion finished with a bogey-free 65 for a slim lead over Dylan Frittelli and Lanto Griffin.

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are 10 and 12 shots from Thomas' lead, respectively.

In-form Hatton – who won the BMW PGA Championship in Wentworth earlier this month – dropped a shot on second but made five birdies in a 68 that left him three strokes behind Thomas leaves behind.

"Got a hot start today and one of coasted coming in," said Thomas, who has already won the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational this year.

"When you get the ball off the tee into play, there are so many scoring clubs. You can attack him if you play really well. "

The South African Frittelli and the American Griffin also both posted seven-under rounds of 65 to be 13 under overall.

Sebastian Munoz, who was in the lead after the first lap, dropped back to an equal-14 with a 70 due to sloppy front nine in which he made two bogeys and a double bogey.

McIlroy of Northern Ireland recovered from a disastrous opening lap 74 to climb seven places to 57th.

Woods & # 39; bid on a record-breaking 83rd PGA Tour victory will have to wait after the defending champion completed 12 strokes off the lead and was right halfway through the 66th.