Browne leads Mercedes Championships

KAPALUA, Hawaii -- Olin Browne waited six years before getting back to the winners-only Mercedes Championships, and played Thursday as if he doesn't want to wait that long again.

Browne was the only player to break 70 in blustery conditions at Kapalua and finished with a 4-under 69 to take a one-shot lead over Vijay Singh as the PGA Tour season began without some of its biggest stars.

Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen decided to take the week off, leaving a 28-man field to tackle a Plantation course that played long and soft, and deceptive because of its new greens.

Only nine players managed to break par.

"I'm thrilled to be here," Browne said. "I would like to play well enough to be invited back. And there's only one way to get back."

His 69 matched the highest score to lead after the first round in the eight years the Mercedes Championships has been played at Kapalua. Jesper Parnevik also had a 69 in 2000.

Two-time defending champion Stuart Appleby hit his tee shot into the weeds on the 17th and took bogey to settle for a 71.