Kensai Hirata has early lead at Sony Open as Zach Johnson gets in the mix

Kensai Hirata of Japan opened with four straight birdies, and he got up-and-down for one last birdie on the 18th at Waialae for a 7-under 63 and a one-shot lead among the early starters Friday in the Sony Open. Among those right behind were figures from the last Ryder Cup outside Rome — Sepp Straka of Austria, and U.S. captain Zach Johnson. Johnson, who turns 49 next month, holed out with a 9-iron from the third fairway for eagle and shot 31 on the front nine.