WOODSTOCK, Ga. - Sergio Garcia prefers playing the tough courses, where par is a good score and he doesn't have to worry about being left behind whenever he misses a putt.
He felt at home Thursday at the American Express Championship, where his 5-under 65 was one of only 12 scores under par. It gave him a one-stroke lead over Rocco Mediate and Tim Herron.
Defending champion Tiger Woods made two long birdie putts and five par saves and was another stroke back at 67.
"I've always felt much better on difficult courses because I don't feel like it's so much of a putting competition," Garcia said. "I'm a bit more relaxed on the course. I know I don't have to go for every pin, only the ones I feel comfortable with."
It's a nice change from last weekend.
Garcia shot par in the Texas Open and finished 79th, 26 shots behind Tommy Armour, who set the PGA Tour's 72-hole record at 254.
Unlike La Cantera, there are no amusement parks next to the Crabapple course at Capital City Club, although several players must have felt like they were on thrill-seeking rides when they got on the slick greens.
Ernie Els had a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 5 but was still 8 feet away after three tries and made double bogey. Ignacio Garrido of Spain was at 4 under and had 15 feet to save par on 18 but three-putted for double bogey.
"That shows you can't go for putts here," Garrido said.
Garcia hit the ball so well that he was putting for birdie on every hole but the 14th, and they weren't far from the cup.
His longest birdie putt was a 15-footer on No. 2, and he rarely left more than a tap-in for par when he missed.
"I left myself in good position to attack my putts," he said.
That wasn't always the case for Woods, who was using a new Nike driver - his third driver of the year, and the largest club head he has used in competition.
Woods averaged 312 yards off the tee, and while he hit only six fairways, he was only in the deep grass four times.
His putting saved him.
Woods had to get up and down for par on four straight holes, but his fortunes turned at the par-3 15th when he made a 45-foot putt. After his only bogey of the day on the 17th, Woods made a 30-footer for birdie on 18.
Masters champion Mike Weir had an early share of the lead at 4 under, but three bogeys in his final seven holes dropped him to 69. Vijay Singh, who leads the money list, shot 70.
Davis Love, like Woods a four-time winner this year, made three straight bogeys early in his round and shot 74.
LONGS DRUGS CHALLENGE: Sophie Gustafson, seeking her first LPGA victory in two years, shot 6-under 66 and led by one stroke after the first round in Lincoln, Calif.
Gustafson, who has four top-10 finishes this season and is tied for 32nd on the money list, moved into a tie for the lead after she two-putted from 30 feet for a birdie on No. 8, then moved to 6 under with a 7-foot birdie putt on her closing hole.
Karrie Webb, Michelle Ellis and Grace Park were at 67.
SOUTHERN FARM BUREAU CLASSIC: Palm Harbor's John Huston survived three bogeys and birdied his final two holes to shoot 6-under 66 and he shared the lead after the first round of PGA play in Madison, Miss. Huston was tied with Hidemichi Tanaka, who saved par after hitting his tee shot into the water on No. 17, and Carlos Franco, who had a bogey-free round.
PERRY COMMITS: Kenny Perry, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour this season and a candidate for player of the year, will play in the Chrysler Championship Oct. 27-Nov. 2 at Innisbrook. Perry is sixth on the money list and has seven career tour wins. STATE MID-AMATEUR: Boca Raton's Michael Nealy shot 5-under 67 to lead after the first round West Palm Beach. Nealy led by one stroke over defending champion David Anthony of Jacksonville.
