HSBC Champions Tournament 2006

Woods shot an even-par 72 to fall seven strokes behind India's Jyoti Randhawa after the opening round of the HSBC Championship at the 7,165-yard Sheshan International Golf Club.

An eight-time winner on the PGA Tour this year - including victories at the British Open and the PGA Championship - Woods was criticized for sitting out the Tour Championship, in order to rest this week's European Tour event.

The 34-year-old Randhawa, who broke his collarbone in a motorcycle accident in March, 2002, became fully exempt on the European Tour this year after finishing second to Adam Scott in the 2005 Johnnie Walker Classic.

Randhawa tied for 17th at last month's WGC-American Express Championship, finishing a distant 18 strokes behind Woods, who shot 23-under to capture the title.

New Zealand's Michael Campbell, the 2005 U.S. Open champion, is in a three-way tie with Scotland's Marc Warren and South Korean Yong-Eun Yang at 66, one shot back.

After winning this year's European Order of Merit, Ireland's Padraig Harrington signed for a 67, along with Thailand's Chawalit Plaphol. They are two strokes off the pace.

Five players finished at 4-under, including two-time U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen - who placed fourth at the Tour Championship - and South Korea's K.J. Choi.

American Chris DiMarco, who finished second to Woods at the British Open, joined Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and Australian Peter O'Malley in a group at 69.

Defending-champion David Howell of England and American Jim Furyk, this year's winner of the Wachovia Championship and the Canadian Open, are eight shots off the pace at 1-over.