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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida - Phil Mickelson, boosted by a 65-foot birdie putt on his penultimate hole, charged into a share of the lead in a blustery first round at the Players Championship today.
The American left-hander fired a five-under-par 67 in brutal conditions at the refurbished Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass to set the pace with South Africa's Rory Sabbatini.
New Zealanders Michael Campbell and Craig Perks finished equal with Tiger Woods on three-over 75.
Perks was going well on two-under until he came undone with a triple bogey on the 14th and followed it up with bogeys on the 15th and 18th. Campbell's round included two birdies and five bogeys.
US Ryder Cup player Chris DiMarco was alone in third after opening with a six-birdie 68, one stroke better than Australia's Peter Lonard.
Woods, champion in 2001, struggled on the greens on the way to his three-bogey 75, matching his highest score at Sawgrass in his 11th appearance.
It was also his first round on the PGA Tour without a birdie since he opened with a 76 at the 2003 Masters.
Mickelson, competing in his third tournament since switching allegiance to swing coach Butch Harmon, defied winds that gusted up to 65km/h with six birdies and a lone bogey.
"I made some good putts today and the ones that didn't go in were very close," the 36-year-old Californian told reporters after launching his round with consecutive birdies from the 10th.
"Getting off to a good start was a big factor for me as it allowed me not to force birdie or press.
"I was able to play for par on some of the tougher holes and take advantage of some of the birdie holes where the pin was more susceptible.
"The greens were very, very fair and it was nice to see that one drop," the three-times major winner added, referring to his final birdie of the day at the par-three eighth.
Sabbatini, who has finished no worse than tied for third in his last three PGA Tour starts, maintained his red-hot form with a six-birdie performance on a day when the average score was 75.403.
He needed just 22 putts on the slick, contoured greens at Sawgrass and dropped his only shot at the par-four seventh after finding a bunker with his approach.
"It was one of those days where things seemed to happen for me at just the right time to keep the round going," said the Texas-based professional, whose runner-up spot at last month's Masters was his best result in a major.
Woods, seeking his fourth victory of the season, reeled off 12 consecutive pars before three-putting for bogey three times in his last six holes to finish eight strokes off the pace.
"I played well but two bogeys with a sand wedge in my hand, that part is not very good," the 12-times major champion said.
"The greens are a little bit tricky to read, different grain out there than we're used to, and I had a tougher time than the guys at the top of the leaderboard."
World number two Jim Furyk, one of 46 players who found water at the notorious par-three 17th, and twice US Open champion Retief Goosen carded 71s to lie four shots off the pace, two better than Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia.
Canada's Stephen Ames, who romped to a six-stroke victory at Sawgrass last year, dropped three shots in the last three holes for an opening 77.
- REUTERS
