Tiger gets strong start in pursuit of five-peat

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Soft greens and benign conditions must have made players wonder if they were really at the Bay Hill Invitational on Thursday. All it took was Tiger Woods near the lead to remind them.

Trying to become the first player on any tour to win the same tournament five straight times, Woods got off to a solid start by missing only one fairway in a round of 5-under 67 that left him one shot out of the lead.

"I haven't won yet," Woods said when asked again would it mean to win five years in a row. "Hopefully, I have a chance this year. I've set myself up. I have three more rounds -- a long way to go."

And there are so many talented players around him.

Chad Campbell and Darren Clarke each navigated Bay Hill without a bogey in their rounds of 66, while Shigeki Maruyama joined them late in the afternoon when the greens became slightly firmer.

John Daly also joined the chase, returning from a freak hand accident to shoot 68.

"This course has not been kind to me in the past," said Daly, whose adventures at Bay Hill include an 18 on the par-5 sixth hole in 1998 and an 87 in the final round in 2000. "It's just good to play at Arnie's tournament, and to play well for a change."

Tournament host Arnold Palmer received ovations at every turn, despite an 88, his highest score ever. His legion of fans had some good golf to cheer, as Campbell played with the King for the first time.

"Showing off, trying to impress him," Campbell joked. "I was real excited about coming out to play today. It's a pretty memorable experience. We owe him so much."

Nationwide Tour player of the year Zach Johnson, Mercedes Championships winner Stuart Appleby and Jerry Kelly joined Woods at 67.

LPGA TourSUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN, Ariz. -- Michelle Wie got the attention, while Kim Saiki collected the birdies in the opening round of the Safeway International.

Saiki, never a winner in 12 years on the LPGA Tour, shot a career-low 8-under 64 for a three-shot lead over Annika Sorenstam and defending champion Se Ri Pak. Donna Andrews and Jennifer Rosales joined Sorenstam and Pak at 67.

By far the largest gallery belonged to Wie, the 6-foot, 14-year-old Hawaiian. The crowd agonized as Wie, making the first of six LPGA starts this year, shot an even-par 72.

European PGA TourSINGAPORE -- New Zealand's Eddie Lee was 8 under with one hole to play in the suspended first round of the Caltex Masters.

A thunderstorm delayed play for 2 1/2 hours and darkness forced the suspension of play with 57 players still on the course.

-- From wire reports