Kapalua, Hawaii ? The PGA Tour could not have asked for an easier start to the new season Thursday.

With Tiger Woods some 5,000 miles away recovering from knee surgery and Kapalua practically defenseless in surprisingly calm conditions, Ernie Els and Jim Furyk led a first-round assault in the Mercedes Championships.

Furyk made himself at home — he finished his 9-under 64 just 300 yards away from his house — by making an eagle and five putts longer than 15 feet.

Els joined him in the lead by making two eagles and playing his final seven holes in 6-under par, recovering from a double bogey that kept him from setting the course record.

“I was watching the board. Seemed like everybody was doing the same that I was doing,” the Big Easy said. “It was a nice day for the guys out there.”

How nice?

Only three players in the 36-man field of PGA Tour winners were over par. More than half of the field were in the 60s, and the average score — 69.31 — was the lowest for any round in the five years that the Mercedes has been played at Kapalua.

No one had to tell Furyk how easy it was.

Jim Furyk chips to the 18th green during Thursday's play at the Mercedes Championships in Kapalua, Hawaii.

He just finished his second home this summer, played 27 holes during a visit to the Plantation Course in November, and he’s the only guy who has played in all five season-opening tournaments since they moved to Kapalua in 1999.

“About as good as it gets,” he said. “The wind laid down for us today, made it possible to go out there and shoot low scores.”

Chris Riley and Gene Sauers each had a 65, two players more representative of this year’s 36-man field at the winners-only Mercedes.

Woods is not playing this year because of knee surgery last month, while second-ranked Phil Mickelson is taking time off. David Toms, Davis Love III and David Duval didn’t win last year, so they didn’t qualify.

In their place are guys like Riley, who is among the 18 players who won for the first time on tour last year, and Sauers, who went 13 years between victories.

They had never seen the Plantation Course, although they proved to be quick studies.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m pretty happy with it,” Riley said. “I don’t know any other different conditions since this is my first time here.”

Jerry Kelly, who won his first PGA Tour event at the Sony Open in Honolulu, also had a 65.

Rookie-of-the-year Jonathan Byrd and Luke Donald of England were in the group at 68.

Six players making their Mercedes Championships debut were among the top 10.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen it this calm,” Els said. “When you get a day like today, you’ve got to take advantage.”