Rory McIlroy sits five shots off the lead as North Carolina's Webb Simpson led a group of three players on seven under par at the end of the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte.
Simpson, who lives within walking distance of the Quail Hollow venue, shot a 65 to sit alongside fellow Americans Stewart Cink and Ryan Moore.
Simpson's round, played in the company of Tiger Woods, was highlighted by an eagle at the par-four eighth and also contained six birdies as well as a single bogey.
"I was nervous playing with Tiger. I prayed a lot out there," Simpson said on www.pgatour.com. "Once I made a couple birdies, I kind of enjoyed it."
With four bogeys and three birdies, Woods could manage only a one-under 71.
Cink was flawless with seven birdies in his round of 65, while Moore managed nine birdies against two bogeys.
A shot behind in a group of five players on six under were Rickie Fowler and England's Brian Davis.
McIlroy, a winner at Quail Hollow two years ago, was two under, while Lee Westwood's round was spoiled by a double bogey at the 16th and a single at 18 which left him one under alongside Woods.
Defending champion Lucas Glover was level par, as was Scotland's Martin Laird.
