FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD: (US unless stated)
-9 S Lowery -8 J Senden (Aus) -7 V Taylor, YE Yang (Kor), J Nitties (Aus), B Vranesh Selected others: -4 G Owen (Eng) -3 J Furyk, D Duval -1 M Laird (Sco), T Woods

Woods missed the cut in his last event at the Open Championship

Tiger Woods trailed the leader by eight shots after the first round of the Buick Open in Michigan.

The world number one, playing in his first event since missing the cut at the Open, carded a one-under 71.

Fellow American Steve Lowery set the pace with an opening 63 with Australian John Senden one shot further back.

Vaughan Taylor, YE Yang, James Nitties and Brian Vranesh were tied on seven under, with England's Greg Owen four under at Warwick Hills.

Woods dropped two shots in his first five holes but then fired four birdies before leaking a final shot at the 15th.

The 14-time major champion took 32 putts in his first round in Michigan compared to Lowery's 24 and was ranked tied 130th in putts-per-round statistics.

"It was probably one of the worst putting days I've ever had," said Woods.

"I know I've got to play well to make the cut, I've got to play well to get myself back into contention.

"Guys are only going to continue to go low, this is the way the golf course is playing it's going to be 20-plus to win the tournament."

Lowery, who was ranked first in putting, began with four straight birdies, added another burst of three from the 7th and picked up further shots at 10, 14 and 16, marred only by a dropped shot at the 11th.

Woods is playing in his 10th strokeplay event since returning from eight months out following knee surgery, and has won three times and has had five top-10 finishes.

But the 33-year-old failed to make the weekend in the Open at Turnberry and has never missed two cuts in a row in his professional career.

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