Tiger is struggling to regain his form of old

Simpson handled the grouping along with Australian Geoff Ogilvy just fine at Quail Hollow. It was Woods who struggled.

He made no more bogeys and picked up two birdies on the back nine to get under par for the day, perhaps the biggest consolation in a round that seemed sloppy.

Playing his first tournament since a disappointing Masters, Woods managed a 1-under-par 71 and is in a tie for 56th place (along with Phil Mickelson), six strokes back of Simpson, who is tied for the lead with Ryan Moore and Stewart Cink. They all shot 7-under-par 65s.

Playing his first tournament since a disappointing Masters, Woods managed a 1-under-par 71 and is in a tie for 56th TaylorMade RocketBallZ Driver place (along with Phil Mickelson), six strokes back of Simpson, who is tied for the lead with Ryan Moore and Stewart Cink. They all shot 7-under-par 65s.

"I made too many mistakes on the front nine,'' Woods said. "I didn't take care of the par-5s. I had an easy up and in at 8, which I messed up there. [No.] 10, I short-sided myself, and three or four shots and I'm right there. I've got to obviously not make those little mistakes like that tomorrow.''

"I made too many mistakes on the front nine,'' Woods said. "I didn't take care of the par-5s. I had an easy up and in at 8, which I messed up there. [No.] 10, I short-sided myself, and three or four shots and I'm right there. I've got to obviously not make those little mistakes like that tomorrow.''

Simpson, 26, acknowledged he was nervous about the idea of playing with Woods on Thursday during the opening round of the Wells Fargo Championship. It was just the second time they had played together, and the first ended after less than 12 holes -- when Woods was carted off the course at Doral in March with a flare-up of his Achilles problems.

Woods, meanwhile, struggled to get discount golf clubs under par. His front nine was particularly poor as he made three bogeys, hit just three fairways and only five of nine greens. A bogey at the ninth hole dropped him to 1 over par.

"We went from 10,000 people following us on every hole to zero,'' Simpson quipped.

Simpson handled the grouping along with Australian Geoff Ogilvy just fine at Quail Hollow. It was Woods who struggled.

Woods, meanwhile, struggled to get under par. His front nine was particularly poor as he made three bogeys, hit just three fairways and only five of nine greens. A bogey at the ninth hole dropped him to 1 over par.

Simpson, 26, acknowledged he was nervous about the idea of playing with Woods on Thursday during the opening round of the Wells Fargo Championship. It was just the second time they had played Mizuno MP 53 Irons together, and the first ended after less than 12 holes -- when Woods was carted off the course at Doral in March with a flare-up of his Achilles problems.

He made no more bogeys and picked up two birdies on the back nine to get under par for the day, perhaps the biggest consolation in a round that seemed sloppy.