Tiger off target in first round

Woods starts with 72, trails leader Campbell by 9 shots

Michael Campbell tied the course record with a 9-under 63 Thursday at Sherwood Country Club for a two-stroke lead over Darren Clarke in the first round of the Target World Challenge, a 16-man tournament in Thousand Oaks, Calif., that counts only at the bank.

Campbell made five straight birdies while playing an eight-hole span in 8 under. Clarke was on the same wave, just not as long. He made two eagles on his first five holes and was 7 under through 13 holes before closing with pars for a 65.

He also was thrilled, for no other reason that it was the first time in three years at Tiger Woods' tournament that he broke 70.

"Usually, par for me on Thursday here is 82," Clarke said.

Woods played gracious host by missing a slew of putts and having to hit one shot left-handed from under tree on his way to a par 72. Woods thought scores would be higher than usual because the rough is so thick.

Clarke has been having a rough time off the course. His wife, Heather, has been battling cancer for the past three years and is in London going through chemotherapy again. Clarke pulled out of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 when she took a turn for the worse and plays now only because it doesn't do either of them any good for him to stay at home.

It helps to play well.

"If I'm playing OK, then I can focus on what I'm doing," Clarke said. "If not, then my mind wanders."

"Any time you have a problem off the course, you can find sanctuary on it," Woods said of Clarke, one of his best friends on tour. "What he's going through, I wouldn't wish on anybody."

Padraig Harrington, who won this event two years ago, shot a 68, and Kenny Perry had a 69. Only three other players in the 16-man field broke 70, with Davis Love III and Colin Montgomerie bringing up the rear at 76.

David Toms, in his first tournament since surgery to repair an electrical problem in his heart, had a 73.

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