Henrik Stenson fired his way to a six-under-par 66 on Thursday and owns a two-stroke lead after the first round in the season-ending Target World Challenge.
After registering one birdie on the front nine at Sherwood Country Club, Stenson drained five birdies along the back nine, including three in a row starting on the 15th hole.
"It's a great score and I might have done it slightly differently than planned because I didn't get it going on the par-5s early, which I think is the key around this course," Stenson said.
"I think I made three birdies on the par-3s today. ... On the back nine, I made a couple in a row there and had some good iron shots, so it was pretty solid," he said.
Stenson had a string of accurate approach shots that set up short putts for his birdies.
"[On the 15th hole] par-3, I hit a good 6-iron to about 10 feet [3m]," he said. "Next one, I hit the green in two and two-putted for birdie. Then I hit an 8-iron to about eight feet [2.4m] on 17. I just had a really good chance on 18 as well. That just slipped by."
The world's top-ranked player and the host of this US$5.75 million event, US golfer Tiger Woods shot a four-under 68 and is tied with Geoff Ogilvy for second place.
"I guess it was all right," Woods said.
"I guess I hit it decent today, just my speed on the greens was not very good," he said.
Playing in his first tournament since the World Golf Championships in early October, Woods opened with three birdies over the first five holes and also birdied the par-5 11th.
"He bogeyed the 15th but rebounded with a birdie on the next hole.
"Actually I drove it pretty good today, which was nice," he said. "My iron play was decent."
A winner of eight PGA Tour events this year and a two-time winner of this tournament, Woods has been a gracious host, providing a US$1.35 million first prize and US$170,000 to the last-place finisher.
Paul Casey, Fred Couples, John Daly and Colin Montgomerie all finished at 3-under 69 and are tied for fourth.
Chris DiMarco and Jose Maria Olazabal are tied for eighth by shooting 2-under.
Defending champion Luke Donald struggled to a 4-over 76 and is 15th in the 16-player field.
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