LA JOLLA, Calif., Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Rookie Sunghoon Kang grabbed the spotlight from Tiger Woods Thursday with an 8-under 64 that gave him the lead at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Woods, who suffered through his first winless year on the PGA Tour in 2010, made his initial competitive appearance of the season Thursday and showed a few signs of the form that made him the unquestioned No. 1 golfer in the world.
He shot a bogey-free, 3-under 69, but that was good only for a tie for 22nd place -- five shots behind the unlikely first-round leader.
Kang survived December's six-round qualifying tournament to earn his way onto the PGA Tour and he missed the cut in his first start, that coming at the Sony Open in Honolulu.
His round over the Torrey Pines North Course Thursday included six birdies and an eagle at the par-5 14th. The North Course is traditionally the easier of the two layouts used for this tournament. Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open, which was played on the South Course.
Alex Prugh and Rickie Fowler were a shot out of the lead, both having played the North Course. Chris Kirk, who also competed on the North Course, was alone in fourth at 66.
Those at 5-under 67 included Phil Mickelson and John Daly, who had the two lowest scores on the South Course. Also at 67 was Bill Haas, a two-time winner last year, Fredrik Jacobson and former PGA Championship winner Y.E. Yang.
Mickelson is seeking his first victory since last year's Masters.
Woods said his chief problem Thursday involved his approach shots.
"I kept leaving myself above the hole," he said. "Every putt that I had was breaking two, three, four feet from above the hole. I've got to put myself in better spots."
