Canadians showing the way at season-opening tournament

KAPALUA, Hawaii -- Kapalua might consider changing its logo to a maple leaf this week.

Mike Weir of Canada, who only 10 weeks ago qualified for the winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship, holed an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 6-under 67 in much more agreeable conditions Friday, giving him a 1-shot lead over Stephen Ames and Jonathan Byrd.

Ames, the only player in the field who actually lives in Canada, fixed a flaw in his putting stroke and also shot 67, making birdie on three of his last five holes despite missing a 6-footer along the way.

Canadian tourists on the west coast of Maui won't be hard to find today. About 100 of them were standing above the first fairway in the opening round when Ames and Weir playing in consecutive groups, and they seemed to split up.

Weir, at 8-under 138, will be playing in the final group with Ames, who has lived in Calgary since 1991 and is a naturalized Canadian citizen.

Byrd made birdie on his last two holes for a 69.

Brandt Snedeker was atop the leaderboard most of the round for the second straight day until faltering late. This time it wasn't a broken driver but a faulty putter. He had a 15-foot birdie for a share of the lead but 3-putted for a 69 that left him 2 shots back.