Jordan Spieth was among the newcomers who felt right at home on Friday at the US PGA's Tournament of Champions.
Coming off a remarkable rookie season, Spieth made a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 7-under 66 to share the lead after the first round at Kapalua with Chris Kirk, Michael Thompson and Webb Simpson.
Adam Scott, the only Australian in the field, is four strokes off the lead after his three-under 70.
Spieth and Thompson have never played in this winners-only event before.
"It's an accomplishment just to be here in the first place. I'm humbled to play alongside these 29 other guys that are champions from the past year," said the 20-year-old American Spieth.
"To finally be here, is a cool experience for me."
Kirk is playing for the first time since he won the McGladrey Classic at Sea Island. He birdied his last five holes, the last two into wind that required some of his best shots.
Thompson also played his best golf late in the round, with four birdies on the final five holes of the Plantation Course.
Scott started brightly, picking up birdies on the second and fifth before blotting his scorecard with bogeys on the sixth and eighth.
The 2013 Masters champion carded five birdies in a steady start to his 2014 campaign, but couldn't match the consistency of bogey-free Spieth.
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