Hicks puts Tiger in the shade

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Woods is playing his first tournament for two months after knee surgery and had to settle for a one-over-par 72 - four behind Hicks.

American Hicks secured the clubhouse lead at three under par after a 68 for a one-stroke lead over Rocco Mediate, Stuart Appleby and Eric Axley, who each signed for a two-under 69.

Lee Westwood, Sweden's Robert Karlsson and American amateur Rickie Fowler completed their first rounds in one-under-par 70 while Stuart Appleby and Eric Axley were still on the course at two under. Hicks is playing his second US Open having missed the cut on his only previous appearance in 2004.

Woods and world number two Phil Mickelson were the big names in the draw but, along with world number three Adam Scott, failed to make a serious dent on the leaderboard. Woods gave the pair a two-stroke head-start, and then after making up the deficit, he returned the favour once again.

Woods hit his first shot of the tournament into the rough at the first hole, leading to a double-bogey. He spent the next eight holes climbing back up the leaderboard and was one under at the turn. He started the back nine with four consecutive pars before his second double-bogey of the day, this one at the par-four 14th.

He then finished his one-over 72 with a three-putt par at the par-five 18th. But despite the disappointing finish to an uneven round, Woods was content with his position.

"To make two double-bogeys and a three-putt and be only four back, that's a great position to be in," Woods said. "Because I know I can clean that up tomorrow."

Hicks, meanwhile, racked up seven birdies today with four bogeys. He started on the 10th hole and had two runs of three consecutive birdies on his first nine holes. He also added a birdie at the fourth but dropped to three under with a bogey at the seventh.

"I think coming out here, I did a good job of framing in my mind a little bit kind of what to expect," Hicks said. "Driving is going to be at a premium, greens were going to be firm, greens were going to be fast and difficult to putt."