Brilliant Start for Kim at AT&T National, but Tiger Closing In

Tiger Woods had not even teed off at the AT&T National this afternoon, and already the often-ferocious Blue Course at Congressional Country Club looked rather placid, particularly because Anthony Kim began the defense of his tournament championship with a spectacular, course-record 62.

Eventually, though, Woods took to the Blue Course, and the man who is hosting the tournament -- who said earlier in the week he didn't mind being a "greedy host" -- showed he might be able to threaten that mark.

With Kim in the clubhouse holding a two-shot lead at 8-under par, Woods played his front nine in 4-under, a bogey-free 31 that thrust the tournament's biggest draw -- and golf's most luminous name -- in the mix. With Woods through nine holes, only Kim and journeymen pros D.A. Points (64) and Bryce Molder (4-under through 14) sat ahead of Woods.

Jim Furyk, the 2003 U.S. Open champion and one of Kim's playing partners, shot a 4-under 66, as did 35-year-old Swede Daniel Chopra.

"I did play very well," Kim said. "But that man can go out there and shoot 60, so I'm not really worried about what he's doing. All I can do is focus on myself."

And, indeed, Kim had a sizable gallery following him as he began his round from the 10th tee, then shot a brilliant 29 on the front, making six birdies. But those galleries paled in comparison to the ones following Woods, who opened his tournament -- an event he couldn't play in a year ago, when he was injured -- with birdies at both Nos. 1 and 2.

Woods also made a birdie at the par-3 seventh, and another at the monstrous, 602-yard par-5 ninth.

Putting up a low number looked like it might be more difficult in the afternoon, with a breeze that was picking up and the course drying out.

"I think the morning tee time was a big advantage," Points said. Of the top 10 players on the leaderboard when Woods made the turn, eight played in the morning.

Kim won this tournament a year ago, his second career victory at only age 23. But he has only one top-10 finish this year, a record that is largely the result of a somewhat mysterious thumb ailment that he said has made it difficult for him to properly grip the club. Now, he said, he doesn't feel any pain. But the injury did not make him feel any better about his lack of success earlier in the year.

"Just because I shot 62 doesn't take away that bitter taste in my mouth when I'm not contending for tournaments, and that's what everyone out here works for," Kim said. "It's awful when you come out here and finish 20th and 30th and 50th."

Starting on the 10th tee, Kim began his round with five straight pars before birdies at the 15th and 16th to turn in 33. He then heated up, making six birdies over his final nine holes.