Magee makes unique albatross

Tiger Woods gave the huge crowds what they wanted -- a spot near the top of the leaderboard in the first round of the Phoenix Open. Andrew Magee gave them something unexpected, and ended up with a spot in PGA Tour history.

On a day when Magee made what was believed to be the first hole-in-one on a par 4 on the PGA Tour, Woods shot a methodical 6-under-par 65 today to get within one shot of defending champion Tom Lehman and two others.

Not even an orange tossed by a spectator that went rolling by Woods as he stood over a birdie putt on his final hole could mar a bogey-free round that saw a relaxed Woods joking with playing partner Olin Browne and talking Stanford University basketball with his caddie.

"It could have been better but I had a couple of lip outs," Woods said. "I was playing well in practice, so it was just a question of bringing it into the tournament.''

Woods was about ready to hit a 20-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole, his last, when a spectator threw a large orange from a hill that went rolling across the green about 30 feet from Woods. He stepped back and looked into the crowd, then missed the putt.

"It could have been dangerous if he had hit someone,'' Woods said. Police detained the spectator who threw the orange and tournament officials said they planned to press charges.

The incident came on an otherwise calm day that drew an estimated 72,000 fans to one of the tour's most popular -- and raucous -- stops. Tournament organizers had worked to limit the rowdiness of earlier years, which included a man being arrested carrying a gun while taunting Woods two years ago.

Second-year pro Brad Elder set the early pace with a 64, which stood up most of the day until Lehman and Scott Verplank posted identical scores. Woods was tied with five others at 65 on a day when smooth greens and perfect weather combined for ideal scoring conditions.

Magee's shot was a bit of a fluke, ricocheting off of Tom Byrum's putter into the cup on the 333-yard 17th hole. Tour officials said they couldn't recall a hole-in-one ever being made on a par-4 in tournament play.

Magee watched as the ball glanced off the putter about 8 feet away into the hole, but wasn't sure what had happened.

"It looked like a hole-in-one and it sounded like one,'' Magee said. "But I didn't know. I was 332 yards away.''

Magee, who finished with a 66 that put him two shots off the lead, had hit his drive in the water two holes earlier and made double bogey.

"I'm still in shock,'' he said. "I'm going to bask in the glow of this for a while.''

Woods, who is not often upstaged on a golf course, was properly impressed.

"Come on, really?'' he said when told about the shot. "Wow, a nice little double eagle.''

There was nothing unusual about Woods being in contention once again in only his second tournament of the young season, although he had plenty of company on a crowded leaderboard.

Woods drove the green himself on the 17th hole, barely missing an eagle putt, en route to his 52nd straight round of par or better in PGA Tour events before adoring crowds that applauded his every move.

"Thanks for coming, Tiger,'' a fan shouted on the 16th hole to Woods, who committed to play the tournament only last week.

Lehman, who lives nearby and won here last year, played the back nine first and struggled early before a talk with himself over his putting got him going.

Lehman shot 30 on his back nine, finishing with a 25-footer for birdie to move into a tie for the lead.

"The first four holes I made terrible strokes and decided, 'hey, forget about your stroke and just putt it,' '' Lehman said. "Just try to make the putt. Don't worry about how you do it. From that point on, I putted well.''

DIVOTS: Tournament officials expect crowds to peak as usual on Saturday, where last year an estimated 124,600 people showed up to watch the third round...There have been 14 aces in the Phoenix Open since it moved to the TPC of Scottsdale course in 1987. Woods himself had one on the 16th hole in 1997. ... Lehman's 64 was a stroke worse than the 63 he opened the tournament with last year. ... Elder was inadvertently introduced by a press room volunteer as Lee Elder, who in 1975 became the first black to play in The Masters. ... Nine players were still on the course when play was suspended due to darkness. They will finish their rounds Friday morning.

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