Woods chipped in for par, escaped from a couple of trees and wound up with a 7-under 65 to match his best start ever at Torrey Pines, building a four-shot lead over alternate Kevin Streelman as he tries to win this event for the fourth straight year.

Woods, making his first start of the season, had a 12-under 132 total.

Streelman, a 29-year-old rookie who made it through all three stages of Q-school, was third alternate yesterday morning and was not expecting to play until someone tapped him on the shoulder to say he had four minutes to get to the tee when Matthew Goggin withdrew. Streelman followed his opening 67 with a 69 on the tougher South Course, which will host the U.S. Open this summer, and will be in the final group with Woods.

Joining them will be Stewart Cink, who shot a 69 on the South and was another shot back at 7-under 137.