The Associated Press

GRAND BLANC, Mich. - Tiger Woods is still searching for the swing he'll need to win a major this year.

Woods did close strong Thursday for a 3-under 69, but he was four strokes behind Mike Sposa after the opening round of the Buick Open.

Woods, the defending champion, bogeyed his first and 10th holes before finishing with three birdies over his last six. He is tuning up for the PGA Championship in two weeks, his last chance this season to win a major.

"I hit some pretty ugly shots," Woods said. "I putted well, thank God."

Carl Paulson, Craig Perks, David Sutherland and Paul Gow were one shot behind Sposa, who missed the cut in four of his last five tournaments. Ten others were at 5 under at Warwick Hills.

Ben Curtis, playing in his first tournament since winning the British Open, was among a slew of players at 68 with U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk and John Daly.

Curtis said it was "pretty cool" to be introduced as the British Open champion.

"I was a little nervous," said Curtis, who has jumped from No. 396 to 33rd in the world rankings. "I just wanted to make sure I hit a good drive. I hit it fairly decent. It was very exciting.

"Once I got out there I felt really relaxed. I enjoyed myself."

Sposa did not distinguish himself on the front nine, shooting a 1-under 35. But he jumped to the top of the leaderboard by playing the next seven holes in 6 under.

WOMEN'S BRITISH OPEN: Karrie Webb, the defending champion and a three-time winner of the event, shot a 5-under 67 and shared the first-round lead with Wendy Ward.

One stroke behind at Royal Lytham & St. Annes was Annika Sorenstam, the world's No. 1 golfer. Among the players at 69 were Se Ri Pak, winner of four majors including the British Open in 2001, Lorie Kane, Shani Waugh and Jennifer Rosales who tied for fourth last year.

• Pak and Rosie Jones, two of the top 10 money winners on the LPGA Tour this year, will not play in next week's Wendy's Championship for Children. Pak's entry had been announced more than a month ago, but she never committed to play in the tournament at Tartan Fields Golf Club, tournament director Kip Eriksen said.

Jones, a former Ohio State player, withdrew on Wednesday. She also withdrew from the Women's British Open, which began on Thursday. Jones' mother suffered a stroke six weeks ago.