Woods did not manage a single birdie in his opening round of 74 Thursday, the first time in seven years he had failed to make at least one birdie in a round at any major.

However the 14-times major winner made amends when he chipped in for birdie at the par-4 11th hole, his second of the day after he teed off at the 10th.

But just as quickly as he picked up a shot, the American handed it straight back when he bogeyed the par-3 11th, finding a deep bunker with his tee shot to remain at three-over par.

With the three joint overnight leaders all playing early, there was plenty of early movement as a few drops of rain fell on the course.

Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge, also playing the back nine first, drained two long putts to make successive birdies at the 12th and 13th holes to become outright leader at four-under.

American Shaun Micheel birdied the 11th to get to three-under but bogeyed the next to remain at two-under, where the leading trio started the day.

Britain's Paul Casey, also an overnight leader, made a steady start to his second round before dropping off the leaderboard with a triple-bogey eight at the 14th hole, a monster 580-yard hole.