Tiger Five Shots Back After Opening Round At Arnold Palmer Invitational

Orlando, FL (AHN) - Fred Couples shot a 5-under par 65 and is tied with J.J. Henry as the early co-leader after the first day of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill on Thursday.

Tiger Woods, looking for his fifth consecutive PGA Tour victory, shot an even-par 70 and is five shots behind the leaders - tied for 34th.

Tom Lehman is tied for third at 4-under with defending champion Vijay Singh, Lee Westwood and Lucas Glover.

Eleven players finished at 3-under or above and there were plenty of others within striking distance.

Phil Mickleson shot a 2-over 72 and is tied for 67th.

The leaderboard looked more like the Champions Tour with the 48-year-old Couples and the 49-year-old Lehman matching shot-for-shot.

Said Couples, "I haven't fallen off the turnip truck."

Couples played only three Tour events last year and made only cut at the Masters. The last time he led after the opening round was in 2003. He made four birdies on the opening six holes.

Lehman hasn't won since the 2000 Phoenix Open.

Woods, on the other hand, struggled. He won four straight at Bay Hill from 2000-2003, but hasn't finished inside the top 20 since.