The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Kirk Triplett closed with three straight birdies for a course-record 8-under 64 Thursday and took a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Wachovia Championship.

Triplett took only 11 putts over the last nine holes - including a 45-footer for birdie on No. 9, his last hole - to pull away from an enormous pack of players at Quail Hollow.

Fredrik Jacobson, Stuart Appleby and Brett Quigley had 66s, while the six players at 67 included former Masters champion Mike Weir.

Vijay Singh, trying to become the first player in nearly five years to win three straight weeks, three-putted from 18 feet for bogey on the last hole for a 68.

Tiger Woods carved out a 69 for his first bogey-free round of the year in stroke-play competition, and Masters champion Phil Mickelson had a 70, his 17th consecutive round at par or better.

British Masters

MERIDEN, England - David Howell shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the British Masters.

Howell, playing in just his second tournament after missing six weeks with an injured shoulder, was a stroke in front of Eduardo Romero, Michael Campbell, Trevor Immelman, Kenneth Ferrie and Andrew Coltart.

Howell had six birdies at the Forest of Arden course.

LPGA Tour

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Soo-Yun Kang shot a 6-under 65 and held a one-shot lead over Helen Alfredsson and Dorothy Delasin in the Michelob Ultra Open.

Kang had birdie putts of 18 inches, 2 feet, 3 1/2 feet and 6 inches, all after hitting her 60-degree wedge. She also nearly holed a 7-iron on the par-3 fifth and made the 1-foot putt that remained.

Michelle Wie, playing in a tournament for the first time since she finished fourth at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, had a 1-over 72, while fellow teen sensation Aree Song, 18, opened with a 73. Wie, 14, is playing under a sponsor's exemption.