Jason Day and Tiger Woods lived up to their billing as the group to watch at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational during a thrilling first round at Firestone Country Club in Ohio.
Paired together, the former world No.1s went toe-to-toe during a birdie-filled exchange and are both well in the mix at the 71-man event.
Woods, an eight-time winner at Firestone, took a one-shot advantage over close friend Day at the difficult par-4 18th hole (his ninth) when he drained a 50-foot monster birdie putt.
But with Woods finishing his round with a bogey, Day took group honours with a five-under-par 65 while 14-time major winner Woods settled for a 66.
Day shares seventh with a host of others including fellow Australian Marc Leishman and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy - just three shots back of Ian Poulter (62).
English star Poulter set the pace at eight under, one shot ahead of Americans Rickie Fowler and Kyle Stanley (63).
While Woods was firing on all cylinders early in the round, Day manufactured birdies from the trees after several wild tee shots.
"Tiger did that for such a long time to everyone else, so it was nice to be able to do it to him," Day joked after the round.
"It's really nice to have Tiger back out here; you can tell how much he moves the needle with the crowds and the hype being so massive."
Day, who held the final round lead in 2016, anointed 42-year-old Woods as the man to beat this week.
"He's won 79 times on tour; it's still in there somewhere," Day said of Woods, who held the lead on Sunday at the recent British Open en route to a tie for sixth.
"He's not too far away from going on a pretty big tear."
Woods agreed and warned his best golf was yet to come.
"It's nice to shoot rounds like I did at the Open and like I did today, where I may not feel the best but I'm able to post a score," Woods said.
"That's how you win golf tournaments."
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