Tiger, Phil well back as little known players lead Open

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. - Tiger Woods was back to the site of his most historic triumph, which represented another step for him and his sport. Still, it was clear that he is not back to being the most intimidating name in golf. That honor still belongs to the U.S. Open.

Except for a select group headed by Shaun Micheel, Paul Casey and Brendon de Jonge, who are tied for the lead at 2-under par, the Open mostly prevailed over the greatest golfers in the world Thursday. Pebble Beach was formidable, but the conditions weren't excruciating. It was the Open itself that kept most golfers on edge and over par.

Woods, who won the Open by a record 15 strokes here 10 years ago, did not make a birdie all day as he shot 3-over par 74 (the world's No. 2 ranked player, Phil Mickelson, didn't make a birdie either while shooting 75). It wasn't so much the ocean wind or the firm greens that did in most players. It was the Open.

"I could have seen someone shooting five- , maybe six-under today, getting hot," Luke Donald said after he shot par 71. "Obviously, it's a U.S. Open. There's added pressure and sometimes that elevates scores a little bit."

There were inspired moments, such as de Jonge's eagle 3 on No. 14. But no one ever got lower than 3 under par. Woods started out with eight consecutive pars, then bogeyed No. 9 and went two over on the back, finishing with a bogey on No. 18. He attributed his problems to greens that were much firmer they had been in 2000, and bumpier than they had been for the golfers who played in the morning.

"You just can't leave yourself a second putt," he said. "They're moving every which way. I felt very consistent out there. I felt like I hit good shots. It was tough out there."

Then again, all three of the leaders played in the afternoon and sank big putts, such as Micheel's left-to-right 20-footer on No. 18. "I think the secret to success in major championships is to manage yourself around the golf course," Micheel said, adding that he found Pebble Beach to be fair. "It's difficult, but it doesn't force you to hit driver off of every tee or hit a long iron to every green."

Micheel is known for having leaped out of obscurity to win the 2003 PGA Championship - nearly holing out with a classic shot on the 72nd hole - and then mostly going right back deep under the radar. He has been putting and playing well lately, though, nearly winning the St. Jude Classic in his hometown of Memphis Sunday.

He has been inspired by his mother, who is seriously ill with cancer. "It's nice because I'm playing for someone else," he said, his voice halting with emotion. "It's always been about me, me, me. That doesn't matter to me any more."

After a pause, welling up, he said, "I love my mom. What do you say? She's hanging in there."

De Jonge, who is from Zimbabwe and is trying to make his way on the PGA Tour, said it was a thrill to look at the leader board and see his name at the top of it. "I had to step back and take it all in," he said. "I was pretty excited, but I didn't want to get too far ahead of myself."