Tiger Woods of U.S. focus on the shot during the first round of the Australian Masters golf tournament at the Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, on November 11, 2010. [Xinhua/Bai Xue]

 

U.S. Defending champion Tiger Woods on Thursday made a solid start to the defense of his Australian Masters title at Victoria Golf Club.

Playing with Australians Robert Allenby and Brett Rumford, Woods finished his opening round at 69, four shouts behind clubhouse leaders Adam Bland and Alistar Presnell.

"I felt pretty good," Woods told The Australian newspaper on Thursday.

"That was probably the highest score I could have shot today. I gave myself a bunch of looks early and every putt was hit a little bit shy. It was not quite hard enough to hold the pace. I tried to be a little bit more committed coming in -- trying to hit the putts a little harder. Still, I was leaving them short."

Of the other prominent players compete in the Australian Masters on Thursday morning, Australian Stuart Appleby fired an even par 71, while former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy signed for a 72.

Last year, Woods won the Australian Masters. It was the only title the former world number one currently holds, having experienced his first win-less season in 15 years.

Woods will continue the game on Friday afternoon.