Tiger goes in hot pursuit on the heels of Love

But Woods, who revealed that he took a real gamble on Monday by not waiting to see if he would be in a play-off for the final major of the season, was only one behind after 11 holes. Woods is the Firestone record holder, with three consecutive victories, two fourths and a second. He is usually the first to tee off in the 72-strong field and the crowd did not have to wait long to see him make progress.

The world No 1 hit the flag on the 180-yard 12th, his third, and made the nine-footer. Six pars followed, but Woods then converted a 20-foot chance on the first and chipped to four feet at the next to go second on his own.

Luke Donald, one of 21 Europeans taking part, began with a 28-foot putt, then splashed out of sand to six feet at the second to join the group on two under. But he took a double-bogey six at the fourth, taking four to get down from just short of the green.