HONOLULU, Hawaii (AFP) ― An eagle and a birdie-birdie finish helped Canada’s Graham DeLaet grab the clubhouse lead Thursday in the $5.5 million Sony Open, the first full-field event of the U.S. PGA Tour season.

DeLaet, celebrating his return from back surgery that threatened to derail his career, carded a seven-under par 63 on the par-70 Waialae Country Club course.

He had a two-stroke lead over South Korean Choi Kyung-ju, Sweden’s Carl Petterson and Kyle Reifers, who were all in the clubhouse on 65 as the afternoon starters were on the course.

“I’m just so excited to be back out,” said DeLaet, who had surgery just over a year ago to address pain from a herniated disk that stemmed from a youth ice hockey injury.

He had enjoyed a solid rookie campaign in 2010 but as the intermittent pain began to worsen he finally had to have surgery to relieve pressure on a nerve. In 2011 he played just two U.S. PGA Tour events and two events on the Nationwide developmental tour.

“I had a good season my rookie campaign and then it was all basically just taken away,” DeLaet said. “And I realize now how fortunate we are to be playing golf for a living. My whole attitude is definitely better.”

He had plenty to be happy about on Thursday. He chipped in for an eagle from just off the green at the par-five ninth and drained 35-foot birdie putts en route to his 63.

The birdie-birdie finish gave the 29-year-old Saskatchewan native the outright lead.

Choi’s five-under effort included six birdies and one bogey. He was pleased to get off to a strong start, following up on his eight-under 65 in the final round of the Tournament of Champions at Kapalua on Monday.

He finished tied for fifth and said he feels he’s hitting his stride in the early season.

“I knew my body was good but the feel for the shots wasn’t really there,” he said of his slow start at Kapalua.

“But as the week went by, it caught up and I had more comfort.”

This week, Choi said, the course is a straightforward test.

“You just attack it the way you see it,” he said. “The wind, for me, I’m able to read the wind easier and I can control my iron shots better.”