Tiger Woods had few complaints after a four-under-par 66 put him within four strokes of first round leader Scott Verplank at the Byron Nelson Classic yesterday.

"I'm very pleased," said Woods after his first competitive round since he won the US Masters a month ago.

Verplank reeled off eight birdies at Cottonwood Valley - the easier of two courses used for the event - to shoot an eight-under-par 62. Fellow Americans David Duval, Chris Riley and Tim Herron, who played the same course as the leader, are joint second on 64.

Woods compiled six birdies in breezy conditions at Cottonwood Valley. His only blemish came at the par-four eighth, where he ran up a double bogey after carving his tee shot into a bush.

Woods was particularly pleased with his short game. "I'm surprised at my touch on the greens.

When you take that much time off, generally you don't have the touch on your short game."