CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Masters is over. The Tiger & Phil show might just be getting started.

Tiger Woods matched the course record with a 30 on the front nine, where he closed with three straight birdies yesterday morning to finish off a 7-under 65 at the Quail Hollow Championship. Phil Mickelson followed in the afternoon by chipping in for eagle and making a remarkable par save from under a video board for a 5-under 67 that put him in a tie for second.

They did not play together, as was the case three weeks ago in an electric final-round pairing at Augusta National. But on a warm and breezy afternoon in Carolina, it seemed as though they were never far apart.

"It's only one round," Mickelson said. "There's a lot of golf left."

Woods was plodding along the back nine, failing to birdie either of the par 5s, until he ran off six birdies and two splendid par saves on the front nine. After twice putting himself in tough positions, he hit a low pitch out of a swale on the second hole to a foot, then hit another wedge that stopped a few inches next to the cup on the fourth.

"I hit a couple of loose shots here and there, but I really putted well," Woods said. "I had a couple of key saves — made a nice little up-and-down at 2 and just a really good save at 4 that kept the round going. It's always nice when you birdie the last three."

Steve Marino, who gave himself a chance at winning last week in New Orleans, and Robert Allenby also opened with 67s The group another shot back included two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen, Hunter Mahan, Jeff Maggert and Lucas Glover.

Masters champion Angel Cabrera opened with a 70, along with defending champion Anthony Kim.

More than half of the 156-man field shot par or better at Quail Hollow.

Hawai'i's Parker McLachlin and Dean Wilson were not among them.

McLachlin, a Punahou alum, shot 1-over 73, while Wilson, a Castle High alum, opened with a 77.

EUROPEAN PGA TOUR

DALY STARTS SEASON WITH 70

GIRONA, Spain — Still serving a six-month PGA Tour suspension, John Daly made his 2009 debut on the European Tour with a 2-under 70 yesterday in the first round of the Spanish Open to trail leader Soren Hansen by seven strokes.

Hansen had nine birdies and an eagle at the PGA Golf de Catalunya course to overcome an early double-bogey for his 9-under 63 and one-shot lead over Thomas Levet (64). Jose Manuel Lara and Callum Macaulay were tied for third at 65.