Johnson takes charge with power at Kapalua

Tied for the lead with fellow Americans Mark Wilson and Nick Watney when the opening round was completed at the Kapalua Resort earlier in the day, Johnson fired a sizzling 7-under-par 66 to surge three strokes in front of the pack.

Making the most of his prodigious length off the tee in breezy conditions, Johnson birdied the first three par-5s on the Plantation Course before eagling the last of them, the 18th, to post an 11-under total of 135.

His only blemish of the round came at the par-4 17th where he bogeyed the hole after running out of fairway off the tee after hitting a drive that was simply too good.

Defending champion Steve Stricker, who battled pain down his left side all day, was alone in second after carding a 67 with Masters champion Bubba Watson a further stroke back at seven under after a 69.

Reigning FedExCup champion Brandt Snedeker (70) and fellow American Keegan Bradley (69) were tied for fourth at six under in the winners-only field of 30.

“I hit the ball really well this afternoon,” a smiling Johnson told reporters after coolly sinking a 5-foot eagle putt on the 18th green in an event cut to 54 holes. “I'm pretty pleased with my play so far.

“It's been a long day, but I played really good from start to finish. I hit a lot of greens. I maybe missed three greens all day.

“I did everything pretty well ... drove it well, chipped it well, hit my irons good,” added Johnson, who had opened with a 69 earlier in the day and twice drove the green on par-4 holes.

“To shoot the score I did today, you've got to do everything well, other than my couple of three-putts.”

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