Sergio Garcia hit six birdies in his opening nine holes to charge into a two-shot lead with a
six-under 66 after the first round of the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Spaniard, playing his first PGA Tour event since he missed the cut at last month's US Masters,
showed no signs of rust on a cool, windy day.
The 25-year-old, who played the back nine first, dropped shots at the first and second holes before recovering with birdies at the fifth and ninth.
Sweden's Richard S Johnson and Americans Patrick Sheehan, Kenny Perry and champion Joey Sindelar shared second place on four-under 68.
Jim Furyk, Andrew Magee, Jeff Maggert and Swede Jesper Parnevik were a further stroke adrift on 69.
Tiger Woods, back in action for the first time since winning the Masters, carded a 70 after beginning his round at the 10th. He was two-over after five holes before rallying with birdies at the 15th, first and second.
The world number one gained another stroke at the fifth but bogeyed the sixth and seventh before closing with two more birdies.
Also on 70 was world number two Vijay Singh, who mixed six birdies with four bogeys.
World number four Phil Mickelson, another player back in action for the first time since the Masters, battled to a one-under 71 to join a large group that includes Ireland's Padraig Harrington.
Reuters