Woods has no
intention of coasting through the rest of the year.
Rested and determined to complete what already has been a terrific season on a
high note, Woods shot 66 today to trail co-leaders Rocco Mediate and Brad Faxon
by one stroke after the opening round of Disney's National Rental Car Classic.
Playing for
the first time since the Ryder Cup a month ago and ending a layoff of seven weeks
from 72-hole tournaments, the world's top-ranked player fashioned a 6-under-par
score with seven birdies and one bogey in soggy conditions on the Palm Course
at Disney World.
With victories in two of the last three tournaments this season, Woods can become
the first $6 million man in golf. He has won five PGA Tour events in 1999, including
his second major title, and isn't ready to rest on his success.
"I
want to end on a good note. It's been a great year. I've won six times worldwide,
and I've come close in other majors. I just want to keep playing well and hopefully
chalk up a couple more victories."
A late-afternoon downpour held up play on the Palm and Magnolia courses for nearly
two hours. Forty-three players were still trying to complete the round when play
was suspended for the night.
Vijay Singh joined Woods at 6-under. Steve Elkington and Mike Springer, who didn't
finish, were 6-under through 16 and 13 holes, respectively.
John Huston, Bob Tway and Scott Verplank were among a group at 67 to trail by
two strokes. Hal Sutton and Ernie Els were among those bunched at 4-under 68.
Mediate's round consisted
of five birdies and an eagle on the Magnolia course. Faxon played the Palm, finishing
with seven birdies and no bogeys for a share of the lead.
Although Mediate said he putted as well as he has in a long time, he missed from
inside 10 feet on each of the last three holes.
"You
always remember the ones you missed," he said, adding the longest putt he had
for par all day was four feet.
"Everything
else was in or just about in. Which is good. You don't have many of those days.
At least I haven't."
Woods began his round with three birdies and a bogey on the back nine of the Palm
course. He added four birdies on the front, including a 60-foot chip on No. 2,
to close on the leaders.
Besides playing well, a highlight of the day for Woods was being paired in a group
for the first time with former Stanford University teammate Notah Begay, who shot
70.
"It was great.
It was a lot of fun getting to talk to him about his two victories this year,"
Woods said. "It was great to relive some of the old days."
While Woods is pushing to become the tour's first $6 million man, Mediate is hoping
to finish well enough to break the top 30 on the PGA Tour money list.
He's currently 37th with $934,507.
"I
really want to get there," Mediate said. "But I can't worry about that until maybe
the last nine holes on Sunday if I have a chance to win."
