Appleby leads Mercedes Championships with 66

KAPALUA, Hawaii -- Stuart Appleby went four years before returning to the winners-only Mercedes Championships. The way he played Thursday, he might not have to wait that long.

As the Kona winds fooled Tiger Woods and made it difficult on the elite field, Appleby recovered from a tough start to the new season with six birdies on the back nine for a 7-under 66 and a one-stroke lead over Darren Clarke.

Appleby, who attributed his four-year drought to low intensity, came on strong at the end of 2003 with two straight runner-up finishes and a victory in Las Vegas. The offseason was short, especially with the Presidents Cup, and he had no trouble getting his game into shape for the first tournament of the year.

"I've pretty much got a warm engine, a warm swing," he said. "Just keep it going."

Woods was running hot after watching his first round of the year fall apart on the par 5s. He twice hit into hazards, turning simple birdies into a bogey and double bogey, then recovered on the final hole with an eagle from 20 feet to finish at 2-under 71.

"Nothing went right," Woods said. "I either hit great shots or horrific ones. It was not a relaxing round of golf. The positions I put myself in today were very stressful."

He wasn't alone in his misery.

Defending champion Ernie Els, who won with a record 31 under par last year, had to finish strong for a 73.

Vijay Singh, meanwhile, kept right on going.

Despite missing several birdie chances, the big Fijian finished with a 5-under 68, along with Scott Hoch, Justin Leonard and Kirk Triplett.