Choi exits swirling winds with a lead

K.J. Choi has won tournaments hosted by Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods over the last nine months during a steady climb into the top 10 in the world. Further proof of his staying power came Thursday on a cool, windy morning at Riviera.

He managed to take the early lead at Hogan’s Alley.

On a course that has given him fits, Choi played bogey-free in breezy conditions for a 6-under-par 65 and a one-shot lead over Kevin Na in the Northern Trust Open at Los Angeles.

“This course, I’ve always had trouble putting and my iron shots have always been a problem,” Choi said. “But I felt like they were working today, and I think even the weather was pretty pleasant when I played. So it all worked out good.”

It didn’t work out so well for the late starters, who faced a strong wind that could be heard as much as it was felt, rattling the pins on every green and making it tough to get it close to the hole.

Seventeen players failed to finish the round before dark.

Chad Campbell and Vaughn Taylor were at 67. Phil Mickelson opened with a 68, dropping a shot on his final hole when his drive found the bunker and left him unable to reach the green.

Among those who failed to finish was Dustin Johnson, the best among rookies in the first two months. He was at 3 under and had a birdie putt on the 16th, and his bogey-free day included a most unlikely par. After driving over the green on the par-4 10th, he played off the sandy path, over a TV tower and just short, dropping into a bunker. He left his third shot in the bunker.

“I told my caddie, ‘This one should be easier,’ ” said Johnson, who holed it for par.

LPGA

Kelli Kuehne shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the season-opening SBS Open at Kahuku, Hawaii.

Annika Sorenstam, coming off an injury-shortened season in which she failed to win for the first time since her rookie season in 1994, opened with a 70 – matching playing partner and defending champion Paula Creamer.

South Korea’s Jacqueline Yang had a 68, and 10-time winner Cristie Kerr was another stroke back in a group that included Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash.

Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum shot a 71.