Tiger Woods Trails by 3 After His First Round of PGA Tour Season

Tiger Woods trails leaders K.J Choi and defending champion Brandt Snedeker by three shots following his first competitive round of the U.S. PGA Tour golf season.

Woods was in a position to be closer to the leaders, who are 7 under par, before dropping a shot at two of his final three holes in the Farmers Insurance Open yesterday. Woods, who has won the event six times, had a 4-under-par 68.

Woods said he’d play the event the same day Qatar Golf Association President Hassan al Nuaimi told reporters the 14- time major champion was “not worth” a $3 million appearance fee to take part in the European Tour’s Qatar Masters, which also began yesterday.

The Farmers tournament is played over the North and South courses at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California, with the winner collecting $1.1 million.

Snedeker, an American, didn’t drop a shot on the North course. Choi, from South Korea, birdied three of his last four holes on the South course for a round of 65.

Eight players are a shot behind the leaders, with a further nine at 5-under 67.

Woods won the event four straight years through 2008 and was also champion in 1999 and 2003.

Phil Mickelson, the champion in 1993, 2000 and 2001, is in a tie for 90th place after an even-par 72 on the North course.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dex McLuskey in Dallas at dmcluskey@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net.