Canadian Graham DeLaet leads the Sony Open in Hawaii after the first round.
DeLaet, whose 2011 season never happened because of injury, shot a seven-under-par round of 63 to lead the event by two shots from a trio of players that includes former winner Korean KJ Choi.
The Saskatchewan native’s Thursday round included a super eagle just before the turn and two closing birdies, which ultimately accounted for his lead over Choi, Carl Pettersson and Kyle Reifers.
But, after dropping just one shot, there was no air of superiority from a player who was just glad to be back out on the golf course after a herniated disc saw him undergo back surgery 12 months ago.
"I realise over the past couple of years or a year that we are all so fortunate to be playing golf for a living," DeLaet was quoted as saying by the PGA Tour website.
"You know, bogey is a pretty minor problem looking back to what I went through last year.
"There were times when ... I didn't know if I was going to be able to play. Things start going through your head, like if you have children, whether you're going to be able to play catch with them in the front yard, that kind of thing.
"I was in a pretty bad place mentally and physically. It's just nice to be back."
Choi, Pettersson and Reifers all shot rounds of five-under 65, though only the Swede went bogey-free. Regardless, it is much more than a four-horse race with Steve Stricker among 12 players on four-under, while USPGA champion Keegan Bradley is joined by Rory Sabbatini and Jhonattan Vegas in another group of 13 players who sit four shots off the lead.