Couples, O'Meara share lead at Tiger's tourney

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Their world rankings suggest Mark O'Meara and Fred Couples don't belong in the elite field at the Williams World Challenge. The 6-under 66s they posted Thursday proved otherwise.

The two guys Tiger Woods invited to his $4.1 million tournament turned in a stellar performance to share a two-stroke lead after the first round at Sherwood Country Club.

O'Meara, who has plunged to No. 153 in the world from not having won in three years, reached all the par 5s in two shots and got it to 7-under par until a bogey on the 17th dropped him into a tie for the lead.

Couples, who also hasn't won since 1998 and is ranked No. 100, had a 31 on the back nine and closed out his 66 by holing a 30-foot par putt up the ridge on the 18th hole.

Two guys in their 40s. The only two players in the 18-man field ranked lower than 32nd. Both with a 66.

"We played a scramble and no one watched us," was the explanation Couples offered. Actually, they did it the old-fashioned way -- hit a lot of good shots and made some putts.

In the process, they showed up the tournament host.

Woods had few complaints, other that hitting a wedge over the green on the par-5 16th that led to a bogey. He still managed six birdies in a round of 68 that left him tied with Vijay Singh and Scott Verplank.

The tournament was for the top 16 players available in the world ranking, plus two "Tiger picks." Maybe this bodes well for the day Woods becomes a Ryder Cup captain.

"I ought to get a percentage," he said.

The tournament doesn't count toward official money or the world ranking.