Three days after the major championship season ended, Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh played like they still have plenty to prove yesterday by taking a share of the lead in the NEC Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
Woods twice escaped trouble from the trees but never came close to making bogey on a Firestone course that offered no letup for those coming off the PGA Championship. He made a 15-foot birdie on his final hole for a 4-under 66, and later was joined by Singh and Henrik Stenson, of Sweden.
Davis Love III carried his good play from Baltusrol into the first round and was among those at 67, while PGA champ Phil Mickelson was all smiles on his way to a 69.
"I didn't hit it great today, but I left myself with some easier up-and-downs when I did miss, so it wasn't so bad," said Woods, who has never finished lower than fifth in seven appearances at Firestone.
Woods and Singh were the only players to finish in the top 10 at all four majors, with Woods winning the Masters and British Open.
In another tournament:
* At Reno, Nev., defending champion Vaughn Taylor birdied six of his last eight holes for an 8-under 64 and a one-stroke lead over Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson and Reno's Todd Fischer in the first round of the Reno-Tahoe Open. *
