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Matt Kuchar leads the Genesis Invitational after day one, while Australia's Jason Day and event host Tiger Woods are in contention.
A year after being taunted by drunken fans for underpaying a Mexican caddie, Matt Kuchar has taken the first round lead at the Tiger Woods-hosted Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles.
On the first day of the 2019 event at LA's Riviera Country Club, Kuchar was heckled relentlessly for paying a local resort caddie just $US5,000 of his $US1.3 million winner's share at the Mayakoba Classic in Cancun in November 2018.
The controversy was inflamed in LA when Kuchar justified his payment to resort caddie David Giral Ortiz by saying, "For a (caddie) who makes $200 a day, a $5000 week is a really big week."
Full-time caddies on the US Tour can earn up to 10 per cent of a player's prize money, however Kuchar's regular bagman was not available for his win in Mexico.
In the opening round at Riviera last year, members of the crowd were heard heckling Kuch with, "Go low Kuch, go low! Just not on the gratuity!" and "10 per cent".
After that round, Kuchar issued an apology and agreed to pay Ortiz $US50,000 (A$70,000).
On Thursday, however, Kuchar enjoyed a more pleasant day at Riviera when he carded seven birdies and no bogeys to top the Genesis Invitational leaderboard at seven-under-par.
"It was a fun, fun day out there,'' said Kuchar, who leads by three.
"I got off to a great start. This is the best I've ever seen (Riviera CC).
"It's a place that I absolutely love coming every year.
"I think it's one of the few courses that has truly stood the test of time."
Kuchar's nearest chasers are KH Lee, Russell Henley, Adam Schenk, Wyndham Clark and Harold Varner (67) at four under.
Jason Day leads the Australian tilt after a 68 left him a three under - his best score at Riviera having failed to break 70 in 12 previous rounds.
"I'm very pleased with the start and I'm putting better than I have in a while," Day said. "Hopefully I can keep that up in the next three rounds."
A shot back of Day is event host Woods, who was hot early in his round having eagled the first hole before two more front nine birdies.
However, two back-nine bogeys gave the 15-time major winner a two under 69.
"I got off to a nice start on the front nine (but) I didn't hit many good shots on the back; made a couple loose swings," Woods said.
Next best of the Australians is Marc Leishman (70) at one under while Aaron Baddeley (71) is a shot back.
Adam Scott (72) sits at one over, two ahead of countryman Cameron Smith (74).
Matt Jones is in last place after an eight-over 79.
