Woods is back on target with a 64 to share lead

Another streak ended for Tiger Woods on Thursday, this one worth celebrating.

He finally broke 70 at Bay Hill.

Ending a peculiar drought at a tournament he won four times in a row, Woods shot a six-under-par 64 in the Arnold Palmer Invitational for his first sub-70 round at the course in three years to share the lead with Vaughn Taylor and Paul Casey.

Woods gave himself a birdie chance on every hole but one. He opened with four birdies in the first six holes, missing putts of 10 and 12 feet on the other two.

“It’s definitely the best round of the year,” Woods said, pausing for effect. “I haven’t played that many rounds.”

Even so, he could not remember the last time he hit 17 greens in regulation, especially on a Bay Hill course with ankle-deep rough framing the tight fairways.

And although Palmer changed the scorecard to a par 70, it didn’t stop Woods or anyone else. The 64 was the lowest opening round at Bay Hill since Woods shot 64 in 1998. Sergio Garcia headed a group of five players at 66.

There were 42 scores in the 60s, with 11 players unable to finish because of afternoon storms. Phil Mickelson shot a 72.