After Round 1 at Hazeltine, your leader is Tiger Woods. And we’re all shocked. He shot a bogey-free 67. While he didn’t putt that well, his ball striking was probably the best it’s been all season. He was hitting fairways — which he didn’t do consistently even when he won the past two weeks. Game over. It’s usually silly to say that with three rounds left. But this is Tiger. He’s won 7 of 11 majors when he’s carded a score in the 60s on Thursday.

As you may have heard, he hasn’t secured a major title this year, which he has to do to complete his comeback. Because winning 5 tournaments in less than a year after having knee surgery doesn’t count for anything.

Playing alongside Tiger was his new BFF, Padraig Harrington, who trails by one shot. He finished last week on a sour note with the triple-bogey on the 16th hole in his now (in)famous battle with Tiger. Well, he’s recovered nicely — as any marquee player should — showing that he has, in fact, found his swing. Don’t let his mild temperament fool you, he’s ready to strike back this week, in a major, no less.

As the two walked off the 18th green last Sunday, Paddy said to Tiger, “We’ll do battle again.” Perhaps it’ll be sooner than we expected. Now that’d be a great story.

In related news, Phil “FIGJAM” Mickelson fired a stellar two-over-par 74 (which included a double-bogey on 10). Nothing was working for the world’s number two ranked golfer — hitting errant drives, missing greens and putts. He was quickly discrediting his famous “Secrets of the Short Game” DVD. His short game looked, well, let’s just say, not up to par. He even hit a relatively easy pitch in the bunker. Ouch.

Vijay Singh played a solid round, carding 3-under-par 69. He’s T3 along with Robert Allenby, Matthew Goggin, Hunter Mahan, Alvaro Quiros and David Toms.

Rich Beem, who won the PGA Championship at Hazeltine in ‘02, shot 71. Sergio “I’ve yet to win my first major but first I need to learn how to putt” Garcia also finished the day with 71.

[Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images]