Tiger up and running, But ex caddie brings home leader

AKRON, Ohio -- Tiger Woods said his left knee felt as strong as he thought it was. His game didn't look half bad, either.
Playing for the first time in nearly three months, Woods made a strong opening statement Thursday that his health is no longer an issue by going after any shot from any lie in a round of two-under 68 at the Bridgestone Invitational.
"It feels great," Woods said. "As anybody who's been off and who's been injured, first time back it's a little nervous to see what happens. But my practice sessions were good, so there's no reason why I should be worried out there."
His ex-caddie saw the kind of golf he was used to seeing at Firestone, too.
Steve Williams, now working for Adam Scott after Woods fired him a month ago, watched the Australian play flawless in matching his career-low round on the PGA Tour with a 62 that gave Scott a one-shot lead over Jason Day.
Day, who tied for second with Scott at the Masters, shot a 63 in the morning. Nick Watney, a World Golf Championship winner at Doral this year, bogeyed the last hole but still had a 65.
Woods' last competitive round was May 12, when he pulled out of the Players Championship after nine holes.
Phil Mickelson sits at three under after a round that featured four birdies and a bogey followed by eight straight pars. The left-hander missed the 36-hole cut in last week's Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia.
PGA: Australian Nick O'Hern shot a bogey-free 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Chris Riley in the first round of the Reno-Tahoe Open. Riley had one bogey in his round of 66 at Montreux Golf & Country Club. The former UNLV star is one of seven past champions playing on the 7,472-yard mountain course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Will MacKenzie, the 2006 champ, was another stroke back at 67 tied for third with Blake Adams and Briny Baird. 2007 winner Steve Flesch shot 68. Defending champ Matt Bettencourt was two-under through six before a rib injury forced his withdrawal.