Cameron Young has taken a two-shot lead after the opening round of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, hosted by Tiger Woods. The 27-year-old golfer shot an impressive eight under par without any bogeys on Thursday. This performance placed him ahead of Justin Thomas, who birdied four of the last five holes. Young, ranked 38th globally and named the 2022 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, is yet to secure a PGA title.Young expressed satisfaction with his tournament start, saying, "It's a nice thing to come out and just feel like yourself. Really happy with it. I feel like with the driver I was just really comfortable and that's a huge key out here. I'm sure I missed a fairway or two, but for the most part I was really well in position. Then I made a couple putts early, which was nice."The leaderboard after Round 1 shows Cameron Young leading at eight under par. Justin Thomas follows closely at six under par. Tied for third place are Ludvig Aberg, Sahith Theegala, Patrick Cantlay, Scottie Scheffler, and Akshay Bhatia, all at five under par.

Scottie Scheffler, who is defending his title and currently holds the world number one ranking, finished his first round three shots behind Young at five under par. He shares this position with Ludvig Aberg, Sahith Theegala, Patrick Cantlay, and Akshay Bhatia.Tiger Woods was expected to participate in the tournament but had to withdraw due to unspecified reasons. His history of injuries has limited his participation in recent years despite being a 15-time major winner and hosting this event featuring 20 top players worldwide.The Hero World Challenge continues to showcase some of golf's finest talents despite Woods' absence. With Young leading and several top players close behind, the competition remains intense as it progresses further into the rounds.