KJ Choi leads but second-placed Tiger Woods looks an ominous presence after day one of the Chevron World Challenge.
Woods shoots 69 to lie tied second after day one in California
Tiger Woods, seeking a first solo win in two years, made a strong start to his bid for a fifth Chevron World Challenge title in California.
An opening round of 69 moved the former world number one into a share of second place in the 18-player field, alongside his fellow American Steve Stricker.
But while Woods and Stricker had good cause to be satisfied with their work, KJ Choi was the star of the show on day one as he carded a 66 to open a three-shot lead.
Woods lost a play-off to Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell in this event 12 months ago but came into this week on a positive note having finished third in the Australian Open before helping the United States win the Presidents Cup.
Woods carried on where he left off at Sherwood Country Club with four birdies in his opening five holes. He birdied the first, second, fourth and fifth, but dropped a shot on the ninth to reach the turn in 33, three under par.
He picked up further shots at the 13th and 17th on the way home, but bogeys at 15 and 16 meant there was no overall gain on the closing nine holes.
On a day when swirling winds gusting across the Santa Monica mountains made low scores difficult, Woods was more than happy with his start.
Good day
"To be in the red (under par) made it a good day today. It was tough out there," said Woods.
"You didn't know which way it (the wind) was coming from, then you have the intensity changes on top of that. The wind was dancing all over the place."
Stricker, who rolled home a wonderful 40-foot birdie putt at the last to join Woods at three under, applauded his playing partner's form on a tricky day at Sherwood.
"I think Tiger's playing great," said the world number six.
"He's striking the ball so solidly. It was tough out there today but he looks like the Tiger of old."
Choi had also taken advantage of the opening stretch to move into the lead, the Korean picking up birdies at each of his first five holes to reach the turn in 31.
Further birdies at the long 13th and 16th holes followed, with the only blemish on his card a bogey at the par-three 15th.
Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar were also on three under alongside Woods at one stage, as was Australian Jason Day, but they fell away.
Furyk reached the clubhouse in one under, while Kuchar, who was briefly four under, had a triple-bogey eight on the 15th and finished on level par. Day dropped to two over, having finished woefully, dropping five shots in his closing three holes by going seven-five-five.
The field are competing for a prize fund of 5million US dollars, with the winner receiving 1.2million US dollars.
Scotland's Martin Laird had a round to forget, with three birdies but eight bogeys in his five-over 77, but worse off was Paul Casey. The Englishman suffered the pain of a triple-bogey eight at the second hole and a double-bogey six at the last, in a seven-over 79 which put him last.
