Lahiri, who was among the late starters, had two birdies against three bogeys when darkness led to suspension of play with 14 players yet to complete their first round.
It was a nice weather as early showers gave way to partly cloudy conditions in the morning before sunshine and mid-60 temperatures in the afternoon.
Lahiri was provisionally tied 77th with Colombian Camilla Villegas (63) leading by three shots. Chez Reavie, Bubba Watson and Luke List were tied second with 66 each.
Lahiri starting from 10th birdied the 11th, but gave back shots on 12th and 15th. Then on par-3 fourth, his tee shot landed just two feet away for a nice birdie, but with darkness enveloping the course, he bogeyed the seventh.
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A birdie chance from 12 feet on the par-5 first was amongst the missed chances, as also a couple from around 12-15 feet, as Lahiri did not find the greens as often as he usually does.
Villegas reached the ninth tee (his 18th hole) at nine-under-par needing a birdie to match the course record. After a wayward approach, he was unable to get up and settled for bogey on his final hole.
Bubba Watson, playing in the Northern Trust Open for the 10th consecutive year, recorded his lowest first-round score ever at five-under-par 66.
This is Watson's fifth start of the 2015-16 PGA TOUR season. His best finish (T10) came at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, but he won the Hero World Challenge in December.
Defending champion Dustin Johnson finished the first round of his title defense at three-under-par. Johnson is trying to extend his TOUR-leading consecutive seasons with a victory streak to nine.