Woods bogeys first three holes in Japan – but fights back to share lead

Tiger Woods finished an 11-year wait for his 15th major with victory at the Masters in Aprilzozo Championship first round leaderboard-6 T Woods (US), G Woodland (US); -5 H Matsuyama (JPN); -3 D Berger (USA), S Kang (Kor), R Palmer (USA); -2 A Putnam (USA), R Ishikawa (Jpn), CT Pan (Tpe), B Horschel (USA), J Niemann (Chi), X Schauffele (USA), R Hoshino (Jpn) Selected others: -1 P Casey (Eng), B Watson (USA); ES Garcia (Esp); +1 T Fleetwood (Eng), S Lowry (Ire), I Poulter (Eng); +2 R McIlroy (Nir); +4 J Spieth (USA) Full scoreboard

Tiger Woods recovered from a bad start and hit an astonishing 64 to share the lead after the opening round of the inaugural Zozo championship in Japan.

The 15-time head champion, who made his first appearance since knee surgery in August, is at the top of the rankings alongside fellow countryman Gary Woodland on sixth.

His round started with three consecutive bogeys, but the 43-year-old fought back with nine birdies in 15 holes.

"I did not expect that I would shoot six under par after that start," Woods said.

Woods and Woodland lead favorite Hideki Matsuyama with one shot to the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba.

It was Woods & # 39; lowest season opening score of his career when he pursued his 82nd US PGA Tour victory to match Sam Snead's record.

"It was ugly early and it was nice to be able to turn it around and get it going," said Wood's, who won his 15th major at the Masters in Augusta in April.

"Now I am in a position where we are going to have a long, long weekend with a lot of golf that hopefully I can keep going."

Paul Casey is the leading Englishman after becoming a one -under 69 had called to finish 14th, five shots from the lead.

World number two Rory McIlroy is eight shots of pace after struggling to a two-over 72.

It was an even worse day for fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell, who was at the bottom of ranking is after carding four bogeys, two double bogeys and a triple bogey in his 11-over-par round of 81.