LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods returned to the PGA Tour Thursday, shooting a 3-under-par 69 in the first round of the National Car Rental Golf Classic.
Woods had not played in a tour event since he tied for 23rd at the Canadian Open last month. He was idle for five weeks before returning to PGA Tour action in his backyard. In his opening round, he had six birdies, a double-bogey and a bogey at the Walt Disney World Resort's Palm Golf Course and trailed a trio of players by four shots.
Stewart Cink, Scott McCarron and Steve Lowery were tied for the lead after carding 7-under 65s. Four others, including David Toms and Vijay Singh of Fiji, were at 66.
Len Mattiace is challenging the leaders, reaching There is little on the line this week for Woods, other than tuning up for the Tour Championship. He already has clinched his third straight PGA Player of the Year Award, which is based on a mathematical formula that weighs wins, earnings and scoring average.
Woods also has an insurmountable 54-point lead for his third straight Vardon Trophy, which represents the tour's lowest adjusted scoring average.
The world's best player is without caddie Steve Williams, who is in his native New Zealand to open a race track. Woods' best friend, Jerry Chang, is on the bag this week.
Woods, who won here in 1996 and 1999, has earned five titles and more than $5.5 million in 2001 after collecting nine wins and a tour-record $9,669,921 last season.
While the presence of the world's No. 1 player adds luster to the tournament, it is crucial for players trying to get into the 30-man Tour Championship and others hoping to maintain their cards.
After this week, only three events remain on the 2001 schedule.
