Spieth, Kang tied for lead at rain-hit Genesis Open

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Jordan Spieth made a blazing start to share the lead with ROK's Kang Sung at the rain-halted Genesis Open on Thursday. In fact, as the weather god intervened, tournament host Tiger Woods never got a chance to tee off.

Three-time major winner Spieth carded five-under through 12 holes of the first round and Kang was five-under through 14 in a star-studded field at Riviera Country Club as the first round got underway after a seven-hour delay.

Phil Mickelson, coming off a win at the rain-disrupted Pebble Beach Pro-Am, was one-over through 12 after being unable to get much going playing alongside Xander Schauffele and Spieth.

Phil Mickelson plays a tee shot on the 13th hole during the first round of the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, on February 14, 2019. /VCG Photo

Playing on a gloomy day and on a rain-softened surface, Spieth clinched five birdies while Kang got one bogey, four birdies and an eagle at the par-five 11th.

Later, Spieth told the reporters, "Given I went cart path to cart path to junk on the first start, and then we got to re-start the round -- I went from kind of being unfortunate to fortunate."

"Really solid start, but certainly got some good breaks," he remarked.

Kang, saying that the weather was worse last week at Pebble Beach, mentioned, "It didn't bother me at all today."

Jordan Spieth walks in the rain on the first hole during the first round of the Genesis Open. /VCG Photo

Incidentally, there's half the field still to complete the first round while the other half, including Woods, has yet to start it.

PGA Tour rules official Steve Rintoul acknowledged, "When we lose seven hours on the very first day of a tournament, the rest of the week's going to be long. Probably (we'll) still be finishing the third round on Sunday morning and try to get you guys a champion by Sunday evening."

Once the play resumes on Friday, 14-time major champion Woods will play alongside Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas in his second start of 2019.