Jordan Spieth wasn't quite so fortunate.
Spieth hit four trees with four shots on the par-4 eighth, starting with a tee shot that caromed off the trunk into a ditch. He made a quadruple-bogey 8 on his 17th hole of the round and even a birdie at his final hole was only good for a 69.
Kirk played bogey-free on a gorgeous day along the shores just down from Waikiki Beach and had a one-shot lead among the early starters.
Defending champion Justin Thomas, who opened the Sony Open last year with a 59 and went on to a record performance at Waialae Country Club, was among those playing in the afternoon.
