Spieth undone by quadruple-bogey

Jordan Spieth was basking in the Hawaiian sun until his day fell apartin stunning fashion with a late quadruple-bogey to finish six shots backof first round Sony Open leaders Zach Johnson and Chris Kirk onThursday.Defending champion Justin Thomas, who last year opened with a 59 beforegoing on to set the tour’s all-time scoring record in a 72-hole event at253, could not conjure up that same magic as he carded a three-under67, four back of the leaders.Thomas had five-times major champion Phil Mickelson’s former caddie, Jim‘Bones’ Mackay, on his bag since his usual looper is unavailable due toinjury.World number two Spieth, the highest ranked player at the WaialaeCountry Club, overcame a rocky start and was inside the top five when hereached his penultimate hole, the par-four eighth, where disasterstruck and he fell back to even par.The British Open champion birdied his final hole for a one-under-par 69that left him tied for 65th on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, but it didlittle to ease the sting of the quadruple-bogey eight.Spieth’s tee shot at the eighth hole clipped a tree on the left side ofthe fairway, and his second shot barely advanced after it caromed offanother branch. He hit a tree with his next two shots before finallyfinding a greenside bunker.The three-times major champion, who is riding a string of sixconsecutive top-10 finishes and had been installed as the favourite aweek after a ninth place finish at Kapalua, declined to speak with themedia following his round.Twice major winner Johnson carded a bogey-free seven-under 63 in theafternoon wave that included a birdie at 18 to grab a share of the leadwith early starter Kirk, who stormed into the clubhouse with fourbirdies over the final six holes.The duo were one shot ahead of Vaughn Taylor, Kyle Stanley, Talor Gooch and Brian Harman.“It felt really good, it was nice to get a good start in under my belt,”said Kirk, who hit 11 of 14 fairways and 15 greens in regulation.“My swing kind of felt better and better as the day went on. Hit a fewloose shots in the front but really kind’ve tightened it up as the roundprogressed.”