(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-12-14 11:06

THOUSAND OAKS, California - Tiger Woods, back in action after a two-month break, was left seething after double-bogeying the final hole to surrender a share of the lead in the Target World Challenge first round on Thursday.

Tiger Woods of the U.S. reacts after hitting his tee shot into the trees at the 18th hole during the first round of the Target World Challenge golf tournament in Thousand Oaks, California, December 13, 2007. Woods made double bogey on the hole. [Agencies]

The world number one and tournament host had to settle for a three-under-par 69 after finding a water hazard to the left of the 18th green before two-putting from 10 feet.

That left him in a four-way tie for second place, a stroke behind pacesetting American Jim Furyk who birdied two of the last six holes for a 68 at Sherwood Country Club.

Swede Henrik Stenson had been tied for the lead with Woods with three holes to play but bogeyed 16 and 17 to finish level with Woods, Masters champion Zach Johnson and South African Rory Sabbatini.

"As frustrating as it ended, it was a pretty good day overall," Woods told a news conference after making his first competitive appearance since the Presidents Cup in late September.

"But how can you not be angry? I made six on the last hole and threw away a good round of golf. Basically I should have been seven under par today easily and I messed it up.

"It was my short game. I hit two terrible pitches on the two par-fives on the back nine. I need to rectify that for tomorrow."

EIGHTH VICTORY

Bidding for his eighth victory of the season, Woods pushed his tee shot way right before pulling his approach shot into the stream guarding the left side of the 18th green.

"I tried to go for it and pulled it just a touch off a bad lie and ended up in the hazard," he said of his second shot.

Furyk was delighted with his display on a day of swirling breezes.

"The scores today weren't really that good," the 37-year-old said after a round featuring five birdies and a solitary bogey at the par-four 10th.

"The greens were holding but they were quicker than yesterday. It took me a while to get used to the speed and it was also a bit windy out there. I thought it was a pretty tough day."

Britain's Colin Montgomerie, winner of a record eight European Tour order of merit titles, propped up the elite 16-man leaderboard after battling to an opening 80.