Mickelson was in good touch on the greens

Phil Mickelson charged into a share of the first-round lead at The Players Championship as Tiger Woods matched his highest score at Sawgrass.

Mickelson, boosted by a 65-foot birdie putt on his penultimate hole, fired a five-under 67 in brutal conditions to share the lead with Rory Sabbatini.

Woods struggled on the greens as he produced his first birdie-free round on the PGA Tour since the 2003 US Open.

His three-over 75 left him eight shots behind the joint leaders.

"I played well but two bogeys with a sand wedge in my hand, that part is not very good," Woods said.

"The greens are a little bit tricky to read, different grain out there than we're used to, and I had a tougher time than the guys at the top of the leaderboard."

It's a long time since I putted like that Englishman Brian Davis after his one-under 71

Mickelson, playing his third tournament since switching to Woods' old swing coach Butch Harmon, defied winds that gusted up to 65kph with six birdies and a lone bogey.

"I made some good putts and the ones that didn't go in were very close," said the Californian, whose 65-foot birdie came at the par-three eighth, after starting on the 10th.

"The greens were very, very fair and it was nice to see that one drop."

South African Sabbatini, who has finished no worse than tied for third in his last three PGA Tour starts, maintained his red-hot form with six birdies.

He needed just 22 putts on the slick, contoured greens and dropped his only shot at the par-four seventh after finding a bunker with his approach.

"It was one of those days where everything occurred at the right point to keep the round going," he said.

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US Ryder Cup player Chris DiMarco was also in good form with the putter, rattling in six birdies in a 68 to finish a shot adrift of the leaders.

Englishman Brian Davis found his long-lost putting touch to head the British challenge, carding a one-under 71 to finish four shots back.

Davis has endured a nightmare on the greens this year, but he rolled in four birdies from outside 10 feet in the strong winds, and also pitched in from 35 yards at the last.

"It's a long time since I putted like that," said Davis, who credited his improved form on the greens to a lesson with Gary Evans, the recently retired touring pro.

It's disappointing to shoot yourself in the foot so early Paul Casey after his 76

Davis's mood was in contrast to Luke Donald, who was fuming after dropping three shots in his final two holes for a 74.

"I had a great comeback in the middle (four birdies in five holes) but to finish double bogey, bogey leaves a bitter taste," he said.

Ian Poulter carded a 75 while another unhappy player was Paul Casey, who came to grief at the famous par-three 17th as he plunged to a "frustrating" 76.

He played a nine-iron into the strong, gusty winds, but his ball found the water short and right of the island green.

"I thought it was the right club, but I was wrong, I guess," added Casey, who then three-putted from 60 feet, after pitching his third shot to the back of the green.

"It's disappointing to shoot yourself in the foot so early."

Darren Clarke (hamstring) and David Howell (back), meanwhile, both pulled out with ongoing injuries.