Woods makes solid start

Tiger Woods
5 April 2012

Tiger Woods single-putted the first three holes of The Masters - but only the last of them was for birdie.

His hooked drive hit a tree off the opening tee, but he saved par from eight feet and then made a six-footer for par on the next after again going left and this time taking a penalty drop.

At the 350-yard third, his pitch finished just under 10 feet from the flag and he converted that to move into a large group on one under.

New leader on three under was Swede Henrik Stenson, who matched Padraig Harrington's eagle and then birdied the fifth, while second on his own was German Martin Kaymer.

The former world number one has yet to make the cut on the course, but after an opening bogey he reached the turn in 34 and remained two under with seven to play.

Harrington started for home one under and Paul Lawrie joined him, Woods and a whole host of others by making eagle at the long 13th.

Luke Donald bogeyed the first after pushing his drive into the trees, but two-putted the next to return to level par alongside Justin Rose, who parred the first seven.

Ross Fisher birdied seven and eight, but a four at the short 12th put him one over again.

The field was reduced to 95 when 1998 winner Mark O'Meara followed Dustin Johnson in withdrawing because of injury.

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