Jim Furyk shot a 5-under 67 Tuesday for a one-stroke lead over U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy after the opening round of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.
Defending champion Tiger Woods, who has won the exclusive four-man event a record six straight times in seven appearances, struggled off the tee and scrambled to a 70.
Mike Weir of Bright's Grove, Ont., the final member of the all-star foursome, fired a 71 to bring up the rear at 1 under.
Woods is coming off a spectacular eight-win season, including victories at the British Open and PGA Championship while finishing atop the money list with nearly US$10 million.
But the world's No. 2 golfer behind Woods, showed his consistency, composure and masterful short game. Furyk closed with two birdies, giving him five on the day.
He was the only player with a bogey-free round.
Furyk's birdie on the 225-yard No. 17, moved him to 4 under for a one-stroke lead over Ogilvy, who overshot the green and recorded his only bogey of the round.
With Woods claiming two majors this year and Masters winner Phil Mickelson dropping out of the event, Furyk and Weir each earned their second invite to Kauai based on their performances in the four majors.
Furyk won the 2003 Grand Slam, beating Weir by eight strokes.
Woods had five birdies like Furyk, but also had three bogeys.
Woods got off to a birdie-birdie start to take a one-stroke advantage over the others.
Woods, who was mistakenly introduced to the crowd as the Masters champion before the round, got off to a birdie-birdie start but missed a six-footer on the fourth hole to drop to 1 under.
After he birdied Nos. 6 and 7, Woods never was able to find his groove. Several of his drives sailed right, landing in the rough near cart paths and trees.
Ogilvy, the youngest player in the field at 29, took a one-stroke lead by sinking a five-footer on the par-4 fifth. His putt was set up by a strong wedge shot from 85 yards.
Weir stayed in the hunt and was just a stroke off the lead, but had a disastrous double bogey on the par-4 eighth. The lefty overshot the green with an eight-iron from 130 yards, landing in the bushes. He chipped on and two putted from 12 feet.
The gallery got an up-close view of the action. For the first time, spectators were allowed to walk the fairways behind the players while carrying a rope, creating a wave of people.
Last year, Woods closed with an 8-under 64 to win by seven strokes over Mickelson, despite losing six pounds because of a stomach virus.
The winner Wednesday will earn $500,000 of the $1.25 million purse.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
