Solid return to PGA for Tiger

Tiger Woods holed six birdies as he made a solid start to his PGA Tour season in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in California.

Woods returned a four-under round of 68 to leave him in a tie for 15th place, with the American making a return to the tournament after an absence of 10 years.

And Woods was happy with his driving on the Spyglass Hill course but not so with the shorter clubs.

He told the official PGA Tour site: “I didn’t give myself enough looks when I had wedges in my hand. I have to do a better job of that.

“This is generally the harder of the courses. Hopefully I can get it going over there at Monterey and over at Pebble. [Friday] will be an important day to put it together and make some birdies.”

Dustin Johnson was part of a three-way tie for the lead with Danny Lee and Charlie Wi after he pitched in for eagle on the third to post a nine-under round of 63 at Pebble Beach.

Former US amateur champion Lee also carded a 63 on the Pebble Beach course, while South Korea’s Wi had looked set for a 59 at Monterey Peninsula before pars on his last three holes left him with a 61.

Johnson, a winner of the tournament in 2009 and 2010, said: “Today I would have liked any golf course, but I love being out here. I love the courses. They all set up very well for me.

“I feel comfortable on them, especially off the tees. All the greens out here I’m really comfortable with reading them. I think I see the putts very well.”

In a tie for fourth on eight under were Americans Ken Duke and Brian Harman, two ahead of fellow home golfers Nick Watney, Josh Teater, Kevin Na and Canadian Graham DeLaet.

Joining Woods in the tie for 15th were Scotland’s Russell Knox and England’s Greg Owen, while Ireland’s Padraig Harrington was in joint 41st two shots further back along with Brian Davis of England.

Ian Poulter was one under with fellow Englishman Gary Christian on level par after a round of 72 at Spyglass Hill.

First round leaderboard

(USA unless stated)
-9 D Johnson (PB)
-9 D Lee (Nzl) (PB)
-9 C Wi (Kor) (MP)
-8 K Duke (PB)
-8 B Harman (PB)
-6 N Watney (SH)
-6 J Teater (MP)
-6 K Na (SH)
-6 G DeLaet (Can) (PB).
(MP) = Monterey Peninsula, (SH) = Spyglass Hill GC, (PB) = Pebble Beach