Tiger Woods's thunder was stolen by Englishman Jeremy Robinson on the opening day of the £800,000 Johnnie Walker Classic in Taiwan. Robinson, from Evesham, Worcestershire, who occupies the 115th and final automatic qualifying place for the 2000 European Tour, shot a six-under-par 66 at Ta Shee Golf and Country Club to earn a three-way share of the lead with Johan Skold of Sweden and Michael Campbell of New Zealand.
World number one Woods, meanwhile, stayed in contention to retain his title with a four-under-par 68, but admitted he had missed some important putts.
Compatriot Jim Furyk, who played in Woods's threesome, and Australians Nick O'Hern and Peter Senior all shot 67s to go five under.
Chasing his fifth successive tournament win and his 10th of a fantastic 1999, Woods said: "I hit the ball very well today. I just wasn't able to get anything going on the back nine.
"I gave myself some chances and just was not able to make the putts."
Woods, who is defending the title he won last year in Thailand, collected four birdies on the front nine but struggled on the homeward stretch. He managed another birdie at the 17th but then bogeyed the 18th.
