CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 5 (UPI) -- Sergio Garcia birdied six of the first nine holes Thursday for a 66 that gave him a two-shot lead after the opening round of the Wachovia Championship.
Tiger Woods, in his first appearance since winning his fourth Masters title, had to birdie his final two holes to produce a 70.
Garcia, ranked ninth in the world and part of a star-studded field, began on the back nine Thursday and needed only 30 shots to make the turn. He then bogeyed the first and second holes of the Quail Hollow course, but rebounded with two birdies.
Tied for second at 68 were Richard S. Johnson, Kenny Perry and defending champion Joey Sindelar. Jesper Parnevik, Jeff Maggert, Andrew Magee and former U.S. Open champ Jim Furyk were all at 69.
Among those joining Woods at 70 were Vijay Singh and Fred Funk. Phil Mickelson shot a 71.
Woods stood at 2-under for his round as he played the sixth hole, his 15th. But he bogeyed that hole, then hit his second shot into the water at the par-5 seventh en route to another bogey.
