Woods Draws Pack

Tiger Woods drew the people. Larry Nelson, Joey Gullion and Charlie Rymer were content with birdies.

Nelson, Gullion and Rymer shot 5-under 65s to share the first-round lead in the Quad City Classic. Denis Watson and Ed Fiori opened with 66s on the Oakwood Golf Club course in Coal Valley, Ill.

Crowds estimated at more than 2,500 followed Woods, limiting the viewing for many.

“I never had this much trouble seeing at The Masters,” said one spectator.

Woods, making his third start as a pro, was four strokes back after a 69.

“When you’re not shooting well, it’s nice to be under par,” the three-time U.S. Amateur champion said.

Playing in the second-to-last threesome of the day, Woods had three birdies and two bogeys. As dusk was falling on an overcast evening, he hit a bunker and bogeyed No. 17, then he barely missed a 60-foot birdie putt on No. 18.

Woods’ caddy, Mike McGowan, said he understands the interest in the former Stanford star. “I like to watch him play golf, too,” he said.

Fred Couples and Davis Love III play Greg Norman and Robert Allenby in the opening four-ball match of the Presidents Cup.

The second biennial event, won by the United States 20-12 in 1994, starts today in Gainesville, Va., with five better-ball matches in the morning and five alternating shot matches in the afternoon.

Other better-ball matches include: Scott Hoch and PGA champion Mark Brooks against Ernie Els and Mark McNulty; Phil Mickelson and Corey Pavin take on Vijay Singh and Jumbo Ozaki; Mark O’Meara and David Duval play Steve Elkington and Frank Nobilo; and British Open winner Tom Lehman teams with Steve Stricker against Nick Price and Peter Senior.