Tiger Woods took the first a round lead at the $3 million GTE Byron Nelson Classic yesterday, but Spaniard Sergio Garcia stole the show with a brilliant performance on his American professional debut.

Woods shot a flawless nineunder-par 61 in ideal conditions on the Cottonwood course, the easier of the two layouts used for the event. However, he was almost upstaged by Spanish wonder kid Garcia, who tied for the lead before having his lone bogey of the day at the final hole to shoot 62, a score matched by Americans Paul Goydos and Steve Lowery.