Unheralded American Justin Hicks grabbed the early lead in the US Open first round on Thursday as twice champion Tiger Woods battled to a one-over-par 72. Nationwide Tour player Hicks, helped by a run of six birdies in eight holes, fired a three-under 68 to edge one stroke clear in the second major championship of the year. Competing in only his second US Open, Hicks piled up seven birdies and four bogeys to finish ahead of compatriot Rocco Mediate and Australian Stuart Appleby. Britain's Lee Westwood, Swede Robert Karlsson and American amateur Rickie Fowler were a further stroke back after opening with 70s on the South Course at Torrey Pines. World number one Woods, playing his first tournament since the Masters two months ago, was satisfied to be just four strokes off the pace after a round featuring three birdies and two double-bogeys. “You couldn't ask for a worse start than I got off to,” the 13-time major winner told reporters of his double-bogey at the par-four first. “It was a terrible way to start. “I said to myself I needed to just be patient, because there's a long way to go. We're all going to make mistakes out there. “I wanted to get back to even par as quickly as I could and then get it to under,” added Woods, who had not walked 18 holes since having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee two days after the Masters. “I did that but just didn't keep it there. “Two double-bogeys and a three-putt at the last to be just four back, it's a great position to be in. I hit the ball pretty great all day. I just need to clean up the round a little bit.” Grouped in a dream trio with world number two Phil Mickelson and third-ranked Adam Scott of Australia, Woods made a nightmare start in overcast conditions. He pulled his tee shot at the first into the left rough, punched out on to the fairway and then overshot the green with his approach. After chipping five feet beyond the hole, his uphill bogey putt slid past the right edge of the cup. Woods lipped out with a seven-footer for birdie at the third before picking up his first shot at the par-four fourth. Despite finding the right fairway bunker off the tee, he struck a superb approach just short of the green which bounced up to two feet to set up a tap-in birdie. Watched by huge galleries and a media contingent of around 100, the 32-year-old American got back to even par after hitting his tee shot to eight feet at the par-three eighth and rolling in the putt. He also birdied the par-five ninth, executing a delicate chip from tangly rough to the left of the green which ended up four feet from the pin. Out in one-under 34, Woods made several par-saving putts from around 15 feet on the back nine but marred his round by running up another double-bogey at the par-four 14th. After powering a drive straight down the middle at the par-five last, he appeared to wince on the follow-through. Asked if he had felt pain on the 18th tee, he replied: “It didn't feel very good. Now it's just a little sore.” Three-time major winner Mickelson birdied the last for a 71 while Scott returned a 73. Defending champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina, who won last year's title by a shot at Oakmont Country Club, British Open winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland and American Davis Love III were among the late starters. – Reuters __
