Mickelson, Sabbatini set early pace

Ponte Vedra Beach - Phil Mickelson, boosted by a 65-foot birdie putt on his penultimate hole, charged into a share of the early lead at the Players Championship on Thursday.

The American left-hander fired a five-under-par 67 in brutal conditions at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass to set the first-round pace with South Africa's Rory Sabbatini.

US Ryder Cup player Chris DiMarco opened with a six-birdie 68, two strokes better than PGA Tour veteran Tom Lehman and Rod Pampling of Australia.

World No 1 Tiger Woods, champion here in 2001, struggled on the greens on his way to a three-bogey 75, matching his highest score in his 11th appearance at Sawgrass.

Mickelson, playing his third tournament since switching allegiance to swing coach Butch Harmon, defied winds that gusted up to 65 kph with six birdies and a lone bogey.

"I made some good putts today and the ones that didn't go in were very close," the 36-year-old Californian told reporters after launching his round with consecutive birdies from the 10th.

"Getting off to a good start was a big factor for me as it allowed me not to force birdie or press.

"I was able to play for par on some of the tougher holes and take advantage of some of the birdie holes where the pin was more susceptible.

"The greens were very, very fair and it was nice to see that one drop," the three-times major winner added, referring to his final birdie of the day at the par-three eighth.

Sabbatini, who has finished no worse than tied for third in his last three PGA Tour starts, maintained his red-hot form with a six-birdie display.

He needed just 22 putts on the slick, contoured greens at Sawgrass and dropped his only shot at the par-four seventh after finding a bunker with his approach.

"I just happened to make some key shots at the right times," said the Texas-based professional, whose runner-up spot at April's Masters was his best result in a major.

"It was one of those days where everything occurred at the right point to keep the round going.

"I've got a good feel with the putter," added the three-times PGA Tour winner. "I'm getting the ball rolling on the lines I want and that was vital out there."

Woods, seeking his fourth victory of the season, produced his first birdie-free round on the PGA Tour since the 2003 US Open at Olympia Fields.

Struggling to read the greens, the world No 1 three-putted for bogey three times in his last six holes to finish eight strokes off the pace.

"I played well but two bogeys with a sand wedge in my hand, that part is not very good," Woods said.

"The greens are a little bit tricky to read, different grain out there than we're used to, and I had a tougher time than the guys at the top of the leaderboard."

Canada's Stephen Ames, who romped to a six-stroke victory at Sawgrass last year, dropped three shots in the last three holes for an opening 77.

World No 2 Jim Furyk, US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and Vijay Singh, a double winner on the PGA Tour this season, were among the late starters.