Watney leaves Open champion Woods trailing by seven

MONTREAL (Reuters) – Newly crowned British Open champion
Tiger Woods mustered a 71 to finish seven strokes behind early
leader Nick Watney in the Buick Open first round at Grand
Blanc, Michigan Thursday.

Watney, who has failed to make the cut in his last seven
PGA Tour events, looks poised to break out of his tailspin
after grabbing a two-shot lead over compatriot Neal Lancaster
thanks to an opening 64 at the Warwick Hills Golf and Country
Club.

Lancaster also had an error-free start to the $4.6 million
event with a six-under-par 66.

Paul Goydos and Tommy Armor III are in the clubhouse one
shot further adrift on five-under 67s and Britain’s Justin Rose
leads a large group at four under.

World number one Woods, making his first appearance since
his British Open triumph at St Andrews, got off to a quiet
start with pars on his opening eight holes and never mounted a
charge.

Defending champion and world number two Vijay Singh was
level par through two holes.