World No 1 Tiger Woods has teed off to a packed gallery in perfect conditions in the first round of the New Zealand Open golf tournament in Paraparaumu.
Woods and playing partners Australian Peter O'Malley and defending champion David Smail of New Zealand hit off on the 284m par-four 10thhole with crowds as many as 10-deep lining the fairways.
But the action came from O'Malley rather than the tournament's biggest drawcard as he birdied the 10th with a curling 4m putt, while Woods made par and Smail a bogey five.
Woods sent his five-iron tee shot down the middle and fired a wedge within 2m of the pin to huge applause but failed to deliver the expected birdie when he curved the putt to the right of the hole.
Smail was in immediate strife in the right-hand rough and sent his chip over the back of the green then missed a 3m putt to save par.
Crowds were already packing the next holes as the trio teed off on the par-four 390m 11th.
The early leaders were Australian pair Adam le Vesconte and Steven Bowditch who were both two-under. Le Vesconte had played six holes and fellow Queenslander Bowditch four, but half the field had yet to start their rounds.
The weather was brilliantly fine and still at the Paraparaumu Beach course, pointing to a string of low scores today.
