Furyk takes World Challenge lead

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-4 J Furyk (USA) -2 B Weekley (USA), KJ Choi (Kor) -1 H Mahan (USA), S Stricker (USA), V Singh (Fij), A Kim (USA) Level B Curtis (USA) +1 L Donald (GB), F Couples (USA), K Perry (USA) +2 P Casey (GB), C Villegas (Col)
+3 J Leonard (USA) +6 M Weir (Can), S Ames (Can)

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Jim Furyk returned after an eight week lay-off

Jim Furyk returned after an eight-week break to take the lead after the first round of the Chevron World Challenge in California on Thursday.

The American hit five birdies and just one bogey in a four-under-par 68 and finished the day two shots ahead of Boo Weekley and KJ Choi.

Vijay Singh and rising star Anthony Kim are on one under, while England's Luke Donald is two shots further back.

Fellow Brit Paul Casey is on two over after an opening round of 74.

Of the 16 players participating in the season-ending tournament, which benefits Tiger Woods' foundation, seven finished under par.

Furyk said: "I had a lot of time off, I haven't played a lot of golf.

"I spent the last week or two kind of starting to get a club in my hand and get some feel and try to work on my short game a little bit.

"I did not birdie a par five and there are five of them. I think that shows how solid I played the other 13 holes."