Tiger: No birdies in round of 73
ATLANTA -- Tiger Woods was near the bottom of the Tour Championship leaderboard after failing to birdie any hole on Thursday at East Lake.
It was just the seventh time in Woods' pro career on the PGA Tour that he was unable to birdie at least one hole during a round, the last coming during the first round of the 2010 U.S. Open. Two of the previous six were also at East Lake, but both came in 1998.
His 3-over 73 on Thursday left him nine strokes behind leader Henrik Stenson, who played in the last group with Woods and shot a 64.
Woods missed a 6-footer for birdie at the first hole, wasn't able to convert despite hitting the green in two at the par-5 ninth, and also missed an 8-footer at the par-5 15th. He had birdie chances on the 16th and 17th holes, but missed.
Only PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner's 74 was worse on the opening day of the final FedEx Cup playoff event. Woods' 73 was his highest opening round ever at East Lake and will make the task of winning a third FedEx Cup title extremely difficult.
He did not speak to the media after his round.
Stenson is second in the points standings, and Adam Scott, who shot 65, is third. If either player wins the Tour Championship, he will capture the overall FedEx Cup title and will receive a $10 million bonus. The tournament has an $8 million purse, with $1.44 million going to the winner.
Stenson had a stretch of five birdies in six holes on the front side, and Scott birdied six of seven on the back.
Phil Mickelson is in 25th place after a 71.
Woods only practiced his chipping and putting Wednesday and did not hit full shots or play any practice holes, trying to be careful with a lower back that gave him problems a few weeks ago at The Barclays and again at the BMW Championship.
Golf Writer, ESPN.com
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