SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Tiger Woods helped attract a record, raucous crowd to the Phoenix Open on Thursday, the first big event in a week that concludes with the Super Bowl.
They didn't see much of a game -- at least not from Woods.
His 2-over 73 was nine shots behind Ryan Palmer, who opened with a 7-under 64 to build a one-shot lead when play was suspended by darkness.
Palmer was 10-under par through 10 holes last week in the Humana Challenge and settled for a 61. He was 7 under through 12 holes on Thursday and then closed with six consecutive pars for a 64.
That gave him a one-shot lead over Keegan Bradley, who made seven birdies in the morning, and Masters champion Bubba Watson, whose tee shot on the 17th hole rolled a few inches from the cup and settled 4 feet away.
Woods was in the group ahead of him, and it's customary for players to step aside when they're on the 17th green to let the others hit their tee shots. Woods smiled when Watson approached and told him, "Good shot."
The crowd rose to its feet as Woods walked from the putting green to the first tee, and the anticipation began to build when the starter announced him as the winner of 79 PGA Tour events and 14 majors. He had 24 wins and five majors the last time he played.
And then Woods sent his tee shot off the backyard wall of a house and back into the desert. He made the turn in 39 -- his age.
Bryce Molder (Conway) had a 1-over 72. Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) had a 2-over 73.
The attendance was 118,461 -- more than the Super Bowl will get on Sunday -- and broke the Thursday record at the Phoenix Open by just over 30,000.
WEB.COM
Parel leads in Panama
PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Scott Parel had a 5-under 65 and no bogeys to take the first-round load in the Panama Claro Championship, the first event of the Web.com Tour season.
Parel was one stroke better that Jeff Gove, who shot a bogey-free 4-under 66.
In third with 3-under 67s were two-time winner Mathew Goggin, Hao Tong Li of China, Peter Tomasulo, Harold Varner III and T.J. Vogel.
Fifteen players shared fourth place at 2-under 68. One of those was Joel Dahmen, the 2014 PGA Tour Canada Order of Merit leader.
Scott Gardiner (Farmington) and Tag Ridings (Razorbacks) each had a 1-over 71.
Glen Day (Little Rock) was at 2-over 72. Sebastian Cappelen (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 5-over 75.
LPGA
Jang jumps in front
OCALA, Fla. -- Ha Na Jang went from qualifier to leader in just a few days at the LPGA season opener.
And it surprised no one.
The 22-year-old South Korean, ranked 21st in the world, shot a 7-under 65 in the second round of the Coates Golf Championship on Thursday and opened up a four-shot lead over Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) heading into the third round.
Jang has full status on the LPGA Tour. But because the opener isn't a full-field event, she had to qualify last Saturday. Her extra time at Golden Golf & Ocala Equestrian Club certainly paid dividends. She made one bogey in two rounds, and responded to that miscue with birdies on two of the next three holes.
The start of the second round was delayed 90 minutes because of frost, and the interruption prevented 50 players from completing 18 holes. They will return this morning to finish.
Jang might not want to wait to get back on the course. She sank a curl-in, 25-footer on her final hole in near-dark conditions to get to 12-under 132.
Although Jang is technically a rookie, she has plenty of experience. Her best LPGA finish was third in the 2014 Evian Championship last year. She also won six tournaments in five seasons on the KLPGA Tour and finished tied for 42nd at the Korean Women's Open as a 12-year-old.
Lewis, one of three players to shoot 66 in the opening round, was 8 under heading into today's third round.
"I just didn't play quite as well today," said Lewis, the first American since Betsy King in 1993 to sweep the Rolex player of the year award, the Vare Trophy and the money list title last season.
World No. 2 Lydia Ko and Azahara Munoz were five back at 7 under. So were Angela Stanford and Austin Ernst, but they had holes to finish.
EUROPEAN PGA
Wiesberger by 1
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Bernd Wiesberger made seven birdies on his last 10 holes Thursday to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic.
The 29-year-old Austrian took full advantage of the good playing conditions at the Emirates Golf Club to shoot a bogey-free 8-under 64. He made five consecutive birdies from the 13th hole before finishing with a par.
Lee Westwood and Nicolas Colsaerts were among four players tied for second, along with American Peter Uihlein and Andy Sullivan.
Rory McIlroy was another shot back after a bogey on his last hole. He was tied with six other players, including defending champion Stephen Gallacher.
Uihlein was 8 under through 13 holes, but finished with four pars and a bogey on the 17th.
The dropped shot came after he hit a chip shot short of the green and then failed to get up and down.
Henrik Stenson started with a disappointing 70, while Sergio Garcia was way behind after a 75.
Sports on 01/30/2015