Lee, Johnson, Wi set Pebble Beach pace

New Zealander Danny Lee recorded two eagles in near-perfect scoring conditions to soar into a tie for the first-round lead at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Thursday as Tiger Woods made an encouraging start.

Lee fired a flawless nine-under-par 63 at Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of three venues being used this week, to end a glorious day of unbroken sunshine level with American Dustin Johnson and South Korean Charlie Wi.

Big-hitting Johnson, champion in 2009 and 2010, matched Lee with an opening 63 at Pebble Beach while Wi carded a nine-under 61 at Monterey Peninsula, the easiest of the three layouts.

American Ken Duke covered the back nine in a record eight-under 28 at Pebble Beach to complete a 64, finishing alongside PGA Tour rookie Brian Harman who also started out at Pebble Beach.

Former champion Woods made a solid start in his first appearance on the US circuit this year, firing a six-birdie 68 at Spyglass Hill, the most difficult of the three hosting courses.

While delighted with his driving, the 14-times major champion was a little frustrated by his approach play.

"I just wasn't very good with my irons so I'll have to go and work on that. I left a few shots out there for sure," Woods told Golf Channel after hitting 11 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens in regulation.

"It seems like the rest of the guys are going pretty low around this place. They are just tearing the place apart.

"This is the hardest of the three (venues) so hopefully the next two days I can get it going," added Woods, who won the 2000 Pebble Beach National Pro-Am before winning the US Open later that year at Pebble Beach Golf Links.