Despite a bogey on the last hole, Tiger Woods thrilled golf fans at Kingston Heath yesterday with a birdie spree to share the lead on day one of the Australian Masters.

Woods fired five birdies on the front nine to finish six under par with Newcastle's James Nitties and South Africa's Branden Grace.

Australian Cameron Percy, who grew up playing at Kingston Heath, finished a shot back alongside New Zealand's Doug Holloway.

Woods started the day slowly, picking up two birdies on the back nine before carving out five birdies on the front nine. The only blemish came on his final hole after teeing into a tea tree.

Woods declared his performance could easily improve and he showed surprise at how soft the greens were yesterday.

''I bogeyed the last hole and missed two short putts for birdie, but other than that, it was a pretty good day,'' he said.

''We can't believe how soft the greens were today. I know they're trying to protect it, with the heat and the wind expected, but we were pretty surprised.''

Woods said he understood the need to be protective, but was expecting harder greens given Kingston Heath's reputation.

''We were just surprised that the balls were landing and spinning,'' he said.

''Kind of in the back of your mind you kind of have a certain little mindset that you're thinking it will spring, but on a couple of holes the ball ripped back eight or nine feet, and it's usually not the case around here.''

Nitties, 27, made an impression with an eagle on the 14th, adding to four birdies, but said he had been feeling rusty.

''I've played once in the last five weeks, so for me to just come out and hit some half decent shots was my goal,'' he said.

''I started really rusty, I made a couple of good par saves on the first couple of holes.''

Nitties' group was sandwiched between Woods and Australia's highest-ranked player Geoff Ogilvy, so there were often fans lingering to watch.