A Familiar Sight: Woods in the Lead

Tiger Woods got up-and-down from the sand for a birdie on the par-five 18th hole Friday, giving him a five-under-par 66 and a one-shot lead in the first round of the Deutsche Bank Championship. It was the 10th time in his last 16 rounds he has been atop the leaderboard.

Aaron Baddeley, playing in the same group as Woods, stayed with him most of the day until having to lay up on the 18th. He made par for a 67, joining Bob May, Justin Rose, Joe Ogilvie and rookie Nathan Green.

Woods is trying to win for the fifth consecutive time on the PGA Tour, a streak that began at the British Open.

“I feel in control of my golf ball,” Woods said. “I’ve still got some things to work on. It could be better.”

As well as Woods is playing, he continues to be graced with good fortune. He could not have asked for a better tee time. Heavy rain is expected over the weekend, and Woods will try to build on his lead this morning before the storm is due.

All he had to contend with Friday afternoon were breezes that changed directions on nearly every hole, causing him to tiptoe his way around the front nine and play away from the flags to avoid trouble.

He managed a few birdies along the way -- a wedge to 10 feet on the first, a seven-iron to 12 feet on the sixth, and chipping in from about 30 feet on the par-five seventh -- along with one big par. After chopping up the fifth hole, Woods made a 12-foot putt for an unlikely save.

“One thing Tiger is good at is he holes the putts to keep the momentum,” Baddeley said.

Woods has only 23 bogeys in his last 16 rounds, dating to the second round at Royal Liverpool.