Robert Allenby's impressive cut streak ended two weeks ago. Perhaps he can focus now on winning.
Allenby had the longest active sequence of cuts made on the US PGA Tour 26 consecutive events until he bowed out early at Hilton Head Island, the week after the US Masters.
But he demonstrated that his one mediocre performance was an aberration when he bounced back with a five under par 67 in the opening round at the Quail Hollow Championship on Thursday.
Allenby was in lofty company, equal second with Phil Mickelson and others, two strokes behind leader Tiger Woods.
''I didn't do anything fancy, just made a few birdies and if I needed to save par, I made the putt,'' Allenby who hasn't won in the US since 2001 said after finishing strongly with three birdies in his final five holes.
''I didn't make a lot of mistakes and I managed myself well around the course.
''I'm happy with five under today but I was very disappointed to miss the cut by one stroke at Hilton Head, because I should never miss the cut in a regular tournament, but I didn't have a lot of focus that week.''
Woods is the new cut-streak leader and is set to extend that after posting seven birdies in a seven under 65 first round.
''I hit a couple of loose shots here and there but I putted really well,'' he said after sinking lengthy birdies at his final three holes.
Woods is on a mission after a relatively disappointing equal sixth at the Masters three weeks ago.
''Augusta was a little bit frustrating because I was struggling with a two-way miss,'' he said. ''I could hit it left or right.''
''Today, I hit the ball solid and I putted the same as at Augusta, but this time they went in instead of lipping out.''
While Allenby headed the Australians, Nick O'Hern was best of the rest on three under 69, with Rod Pampling and Nathan Green on 70.
Geoff Ogilvy carded a respectable 71, but Adam Scott's recent struggles continued as he battled to a 77 that left him only one stroke ahead of last place.
Scott hit only two fairways and had 34 putts, not a good combination.
Western Australian O'Hern was pleased with his finish, which included four birdies in his final six holes, culminating with a 10m bomb at the last.
Earlier, at his ninth hole, the par-four 18th, O'Hern ran up a double bogey after trying to play his partly submerged ball out of a greenside hazard.
''I took my shoes and socks off but my feet sunk [in the mud] as soon as I walked into the water,'' O'Hern said.
''My caddie tried to talk me out of it, but I thought I might as well have a crack at it and see what happens.''
O'Hern's risk did not pay off, as he failed to get his ball out of the hazard at the first attempt, before cutting his losses and taking a penalty stroke. He eventually sank a 3m putt to avoid a triple bogey. AAP