Tiger Woods, playing for the first time since his successful defence of the Open championship title, began the Buick Open at Warwick Hills in Michigan with five straight birdies but still ended his round three off the pace.

The world number one, warming up now for the US PGA championship in two weeks' time, turned in 31 and when he added another birdie at the par five first he led on his own.

After picking up a further stroke on the long seventh, however, Woods bogeyed the 199-yard eighth and had to settle for a six-under-par 66.

Canadian Mike Weir was out in front by then, five successive birdies of his own from the 13th taking the left-hander to a nine under 63.

Vijay Singh, winner of the title the last two years with totals of 24 and 23 under, was a shot behind in second, while Joe Durant, Woody Austin and Brett Quigley were tied for third when round one was suspended for the day.