BETHESDA, Maryland: Tiger Woods fired his lowest round in nearly two years to answer a career-low course record by defending champion Anthony Kim and produce a sizzling start to the PGA National on Thursday.

Korean-American standout Kim, inspired to play golf by fist-pumping idol Woods, fired an eight-under par 62 at rain-softened Congressional Country Club for a two-stroke lead on fellow Americans Woods, D.A. Points and Bryce Molder.

Tournament host Woods sank seven birdies, his longest a 48-footer at the second hole, in 27 putts on the way to his 64, the 14-time major champion's best round since the 2007 PGA Tour Championship some 22 months ago.

"It was nice to get back inside the ropes and try to catch AK," Woods said. "I put a lot of putts on line and some of them went in. The greens were soft. The course could be had."

Two weeks past his 24th birthday, Kim fired eight birdies, six in his last nine holes, on a record run that began on the 10th tee of the 7,255-yard layout in the US$6-million event.

"I got off to a great start. I hit quality golf shots and made putts from 10 to 15 feet," Kim said. "I'd like to say it was just me playing fantastic golf, but I got a couple good breaks along the way and drove it pretty well overall."

Two weeks ahead of the British Open, the stage could be set for a showdown between superstar Woods, back in prime form after left knee surgery a year ago, and his friend Kim, who has not won any event since last year's National.

"Hopefully we can both get into that situation," Woods said. "If we do have a head-to-head battle, it is what it is. We have a long way to go before that happens. He has the talent. It just takes time. He's still very young."

Woods began his round just as Kim finished his, knowing he had thrown down a challenge to Woods.

"I did play very well, but that man can go out there and shoot 60," Kim said. "I'm not really worried about what he's doing. All I can do is focus on myself. That was the difference."

Woods opened with back-to-back birdies and added two more on the par-three seventh and par-five ninth. After his lone bogey at 11, Woods responded with birdies on three of the next five holes, the last of them on the par-five 16th after sending his approach into the left rough.

Within reach of matching Kim's record, Woods pulled a 12-foot birdie putt at 17 and left a 25-foot birdie bid inches short at the 18th.

"You can be aggressive. You can fire at the flags," said Woods, his plans for firm greens foiled by overnight rain. "If you get it going you can post a number. Today is the day to pull it off because the greens are so soft."

The former 18-hole event and course record was a 63 fired last year by American Tom Pernice and Australian Peter Lonard. The low prior first-round score was a 65 shot last year by home-area hero Steve Marino.

"As the course firms up, this golf course is going to start to show its teeth," Kim warned.

Woods has won twice since returning from knee surgery in February, taking events hosted by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus that were both two weeks before majors, just as this event is two weeks before the British Open.

Kim has not won since taking last year's National. He was hampered by shoulder and ankle injuries and a thumb sprain that only recently healed.

"It's still hard. Just because I shot 62 doesn't take away that bitter taste in my mouth when I'm not contending for tournaments," Kim said.

"I'm finally getting to that point where I feel like I'm going to be able to win every time I tee it up. It's not going to take anything crazy. It's just going to take solid golf."

Australian Steve Elkington birdied three of the last six holes to fire a bogey-free 65 and stand fifth, one stroke ahead of Sweden's Daniel Chopra, US veteran Jim Furyk and Aussie Stuart Appleby.

- AFP/yb