Duffy Waldorf stepped in front of the David Duval express, equalling a course record with a 9-under-par 63 today to grab the lead after the first round of the BellSouth Classic.

Duval, the world's hottest player, was only three shots off the pace after a soggy day at the TPC at Sugarloaf course north of Atlanta, site of the final tune-up for the Masters.

Waldorf, needing a victory to qualify for his fifth appearance at Augusta National, was planning to spend next week with his wife and four children, enjoying some time away from the course. However, he's willing to reconsider.

"You're always looking for a way to get back in," said Waldorf, who last played at Augusta two years ago and finished fifth in 1996. "I have a good chance this week. I'm happy to at least be in the ballgame."

Waldorf tied the course record set a year ago by Tiger Woods, whose third-round 63 carried him to a one-shot victory over Jay Don Blake. Woods did not return this year to defend his title.

The start was delayed two hours by fog, the remnant of severe storms that soaked the 7,259-yard course the previous day. The soft, wet conditions prevented the players from getting a taste of the icy greens they'll face next week at Augusta, but most seemed relieved to escape the brutal set-up that surrendered only two below-par scores in The Players Championship.

"It was nice to get out and make a couple of birdies after last week," said Waldorf, who put together nine birdies on the 7,259-yard course.

He was one shot ahead of New Zealander Grant Waite and two in front of South African Rory Sabbatini. But all eyes were on Duval, lurking among a group of players with a 6-under 66.

The 27-year-old, who played college golf at nearby Georgia Tech, has supplanted Woods as the game's most dominant player, already winning three tournaments -- including the Players -- and more than $2.1 million in the first three months of the year.

"This round shows the quality of a guy like David," Waite said. ``Last week was brutally difficult, then he comes right out of that tournament, adjusts his game and shoots a 66. It's a rare ability to adjust your game like that."

Duval didn't have to contend with Woods, who decided to sit out Atlanta after the tournament was moved from May to the week preceding the Masters. However, the pre-Augusta scheduling lured a strong international field getting in some last-minute work for the year's first major.

Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and Jose Maria Olazabal gave the field a Masters look, though course designer Greg Norman dropped out Wednesday because of a virus.

Duval, scheduled to tee off at 7:27 a.m., wound up spending nearly two hours at the driving range because of the delay. He plopped down on his bag for a while because he didn't want to make the long walk back to the clubhouse at the sprawling complex.

By the time he finally teed off, Duval was admittedly a "little bit spaced out," although he still made the turn at 1-under. Then, at the 608-yard No. 10, the longest hole on the course, he hit a 3-wood onto the green from 275 yards to set up a two-putt birdie.

"It really kind of woke me up to hit something so well," said Duval, who birdied the next two holes as well. "That got me going a bit."

Waldorf had two spurts that made his round. Starting on the back, he came through with three straight birdies at Nos. 14-16, then birdied the first four holes on the front nine after making the turn. That streak was highlighted by a 30-foot putt at No. 1 and a 20-footer at No. 2.

"You get the momentum going, hitting shots close and making putts," Waldorf said. "You could, with the wet conditions, attack the pins all the way around."

Divots: Though Woods sat out the tournament, eight defending champions were in the field, including Scott McCarron (1997), Paul Stankowski (1996) and Mark Calcavecchia (1995). ... Waite was one of the few players to go for the green in two at the par-5 18th, which is fronted by a pond. He wound up with an eagle, hitting a two-iron 15 feet behind the hole and making the putt.