Golf-Woods in bullish mood despite opening 73

BETHESDA, Maryland, June 6 (Reuters) Tournament host Tiger Woods stumbled in the opening round of the AT&T National but the world number one said it was too early to count him out.

The 31-year-old American started out with successive bogeys and dropped four shots in the last six holes for a three-over par 73 to lie seven strokes off the pace.

''There's a bunch of guys up there right now,'' Woods told reporters yesterday, referring to a congested leaderboard headed by five players.

''I've still got three rounds. I can't get them in one. It's going to have to be over three and hopefully I can be there in the end.'' Woods has had his share of distractions during the tournament build-up. He is not only hosting his first official event on the PGA Tour but his Swedish wife Elin gave birth to their first child a little over two weeks ago.

The 12-times major winner conceded he had been nervous before the start of the inaugural 6 million dollar event at the Congressional Country Club.

''The day I'm not nervous is the day I quit, plain and simple,'' he said. ''If you don't care, that means you're not nervous.'' Woods, hunting a 58th PGA Tour title, fought back to one under for his round after 12 holes before losing ground over the closing stretch as he struggled on the greens.

''All of my putts I missed were short,'' he said. ''Way short, actually. It was a struggle. I could not get a ball to the hole.

''Towards the end there, I tried to actually place some iron shots above the holes to at least make it a little bit easier because I just struggled. I just struggled hitting the putts hard enough.'' Five players shared the lead after opening with 66s, among them former world number one Vijay Singh, South Korea's K.J.

Choi and American Jim Furyk.

''I've got three days to make it up,'' Woods said. ''You want to be ahead at 72 holes. I have 54 holes to get myself back in this tournament and hopefully I can do it.'' REUTERS DKS RAI0602