Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello was leading the European challenge during the early stages of the US Open Championship.
At two under the Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner was only one behind American Jason Bohn during the first round at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.
Twice a winner on the US PGA Tour and with a round of 58 to his name on the Canadian circuit, Bohn birdied the first, seventh and 11th in a dream start to only his second US Open.
That put him one ahead of another qualifier, Michael Thompson, and Cabrera-Bello.
Scot Marc Warren - playing in his first Major Championship at the age of 31 - kicked off with a birdie on the 449 yard ninth and remained part of the group on one under after seven holes.
Irishman Padraig Harrington was alongside him, but then ran up a double bogey seven at the monstrous 670 yard 16th, the longest hole in Major history.
Harrington did hit straight back with his third birdie of the day, however, and at level par was on the same mark as not only Tiger Woods, but also England's Robert Rock.
Defending champion Rory McIlroy, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood were among the later starters, with organisers having decided to put the Official World Golf Ranking's top three in the same group for the second year running.
The news was not so good for five-time runner-up Phil Mickelson, however.
His opening drive was lost high up in the branches of a tree, and after losing a ball in the water last year, his hopes of winning a US Open title took another early hit as he was made to make the long walk back to the tee.
Although he made birdie with his second ball, the left-hander started with three successive bogeys and was soon four over par.
Mickelson was playing with Woods and Bubba Watson and while Woods, winner of the Memorial Tournament two weeks ago, impressed with his ball-striking again to be level par after 12 holes Masters Tournament champion Watson was another struggling.
His second shot from the rough moved only a few yards and by the time he double-bogeyed the 344 yard 18th - his tenth of the day - he was already five over and eight behind Bohn.
The opening six-hole stretch is the one that really sorts the men out from the boys and when Woods sank curling putts of nine and 30 feet at the fourth and fifth he was up into joint second place only a stroke behind new leader Thompson.
