While Woods struggled on the greens in mainly wet and cold conditions at CordeValle Golf Club in his first tournament appearance in almost two months, Steele and company fired 4-under 67s to set the first-round pace.

Steele, who clinched his maiden PGA Tour title at the Texas Open in April, covered the back nine in a sizzling five-under 31 to join Baird, Willis and Bettencourt at the top of the leaderboard on a saturated course playing ultra-long.

“It was a little cold and rainy this morning, and the ball wasn’t carrying very far,” the 28-year-old Steele told reporters after recording five birdies and a lone bogey.

“It was a little tough to get going early on but, once I made the turn, things started to click. I caught some nice weather on the back nine.”

Journeyman Baird, who has to win a PGA Tour title after 12 full seasons on the US circuit, was delighted to be in contention after holing a 20-foot par putt at the last.

Australians Steve Bowditch, Matt Jones, Rod Pampling and Aron Price, Canadian Chris Baryla and American Troy Matteson opened with 68s while three-times major winner Ernie Els was among a group of 14 players on 69.

British world No. 20 Paul Casey, the highest-ranked player in the field, briefly held a share of the lead before dropping four shots in the last six holes to card a 70.

Former world No. 1 Woods, who has not competed since he missed the cut at the PGA Championship in August, struggled badly with his putting on the way to an erratic 73.

“That’s probably one of the worst putting rounds I’ve ever had,” he said after totalling 27 putts and reaching just nine greens in regulation. “Whatever momentum I could have gotten by hitting good shots, I just missed putts.

“I am just playing to be competitive and to win a golf tournament,” added Woods, who is taking part in a Fall Series event for the first time at the urging of Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples.

“It’s not about (Presidents Cup) validation. I’m six (shots) back and I have to put in a good round tomorrow.”

After making an encouraging start under overcast skies with a birdie at the par-four first, Woods bogeyed the second and third to reach the turn in one-over 36.

He squandered a golden opportunity at the par-three 11th where his birdie putt from four feet slid past the right edge of the cup before he made a total mess of the par-five 12th.

As the rain began to intensify, he double-bogeyed the hole after driving into the left rough and pulling his second shot into a hazard before taking a penalty drop.

Though he birdied the par-five 15th after ending up just short of the green in two shots, he failed to make up any further ground over the closing stretch.

Conditions were tricky for scoring, however, on the undulating par-71 layout which played much longer than its official 7,368 yards because of the wet weather.
 
 
McIlroy in five-way tie for lead in Cheonan

In Cheonan, South Korea, US Open champion Rory McIlroy, defending champion YE Yang and Rickie Fowler were among an array of top talent sharing a five-way lead after the second round of the Kolon Korea Open Friday.

The trio were joined at the top of the leaderboard at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club by veteran home hope Mo Joong-Kyung and Australia’s Bronson La’Cassie, both of who charged into contention at the OneAsia event in Cheonan.

McIlroy, who has finished inside the top three in his last three events, reached the turn in level par before back-to-back birdies. The world No. 3 is chasing his first win since his US Open triumph in June.

“It was a good round. I felt it could have been lower, but I played solid golf and holed some nice putts,” said McIlroy, 22, who finished third in 2009.

“It’s a good start to the tournament and I have put myself in a good position going into the weekend.” American Fowler fell short of following up his opening round 67, but the 2010 US PGA Tour Rookie of the Year is firmly in the hunt to claim a first career title after making his Ryder Cup debut last year.

“I got it around and I am in a good position for the weekend, so that’s a positive,” said the 22-year-old, who posted a 70.

Yang again matched Fowler’s score with three birdies to remain in the hunt for a third Kolon Korea Open title after overcoming a 10-shot final-round deficit last year.

Mo, 40, carded five birdies and an eagle in a five-under-par 66, while La’Cassie posted an equally impressive 67, although a missed six-foot birdie putt on the final green cost the Australian the outright lead.