Fan helps save Green's round

KAPALUA, Maui » Nathan Green's first appearance at the SBS Championship was a good one thanks in part to a fan who took one for the team.

After opening with a couple of birdies during yesterday's opening round at the hilly Plantation Course, Green came to the par-3 eighth and proceeded to pull his drive left. His second shot, from near the hazard and trees, came out hot.

“;It looked like it was going to hit this young girl in the head and it ended up catching her on the arm and sort of ricocheted left,”; Green said. “;It definitely saved me a shot or two. I got up and down for a (bogey) four. If I hadn't hit anyone, I would be looking at an unplayable and I could still be there.”;

Did the young fan follow him after he gave her a ball and a glove for her troubles?

“;No, she thought she would try her luck with the next group,”; said Green, who is tied for second with a 6-under 67.

Laird gets it started

Scotland's Martin Laird hit the first shot of the 2010 PGA Tour season steady and true at 8:50 yesterday morning. The drive on the par-4 first in light rain was 368 yards as Laird settled for a par en route to a 6-under 67 that left him tied for second, one shot behind Lucas Glover.

When did he realize he was starting the tour campaign?

“;Yes, I didn't really think about it actually until I came up (to the first tee box),”; Laird said. “;There were quite a lot of people around the tee. I guess it's the first tee shot of the new year and the first shot with SBS as the sponsor. It was nice to hit a good one right down the middle.”;

Fast start no guarantee

Glover's 7-under 66 is the seventh time he has led a tournament after the opening round. He has never won an event the six previous times he has either led outright or shared it, with a tie for seventh at the 2008 Verizon Heritage his best finish. The last time he led after the opening round, he tied for 42nd last year in Phoenix.

This is Glover's second start at the season-opening event on Maui. In 2006, he finished sixth here at the then-Mercedes Championship.

Ogilvy in the mix

Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy was in the final pairing with world No. 3 Steve Stricker and didn't disappoint his fans with a 4-under 69, marking his fifth consecutive round here in the 60s.

In the history of this event, six players have managed to win it back-to-back. They are Stuart Appleby (2004-06), Lanny Wadkins (1982-83), Tom Watson (1979-80), Arnold Palmer (1965-66), Jack Nicklaus (1963-64) and Gene Littler (1955-57). Littler and Appleby are the only players to capture this elite-field tournament three consecutive years.

Inside the numbers

The average score in yesterday's opening round was 69.857, with the most difficult hole being the par-3 eighth with an average score of 3.393. There was only one birdie, 17 pars, eight bogeys and two double bogeys.

The easiest hole was the par-5 ninth with an average score of 4.250. Glover had the lone eagle with 19 birdies and eight pars.