Tiger Woods Impressive At WGC-Bridgestone Invitational

(NewsCore) - AKRON, Ohio -- Australian Adam Scott fired a spectacular 62 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational Thursday, while Tiger Woods shot an encouraging two-under par 68 on his return to competitive action.

Scott, with Woods' former caddie Steve Williams on his bag, produced eight birdies and not a single dropped shot during a virtually flawless display at Firestone Golf and Country Club.

That was good enough to end one stroke clear of compatriot Jason Day, who had led for much of the day after posting a 63, with American Nick Watney on his own in third at five-under.

But former world number one Woods claimed plenty of headlines of his own as he put in a confident and measured display in his first outing since The Masters in April.

The American, who has overcome injuries in his left leg, started with nine straight pars but picked up three birdies and just a single bogey on his back nine to finish on two-under in a tie for 18th in the 76-man field.

"It felt good today," Woods told Sky Sports after his round. "I hit the ball really flush.

"The hardest part was controlling my distances because I hadn't hit the ball this flush in a long time -- the amount of compression I was getting was just incredible. It was fun.

"I've got much more speed and compression through impact and the ball's just taking off. You've got to factor that in with the heat and I was hitting numbers that I hadn't hit before."

Scot Martin Laird was leading the British challenge, part of a large group on four-under after five birdies in seven holes on the front nine.

Read more: Sky Sports