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Stricker notched eight birdies, including five in a row mid-round, to card an impressive eight-under-par 63 in delightful morning conditions at the Boston TPC.
Stricker and Furyk led by two strokes from a large group including South African Retief Goosen, who eagled the par-five 18th from 40 feet, and Masters champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina.
“It was one of my best ball-striking rounds this year for sure.”
Co-leader Furyk got off to a scorching start, making five birdies in his first six holes and adding three more in bogey-free round to grab a share of the lead later in the day.
“I felt comfortable out there today. I hit the ball very solid, hit a bunch of fairways, a bunch of greens and more importantly set myself up with a lot of good (birdie) opportunities and took advantage of eight of them,” said the 2003 US Open champion. Woods, aiming to ease the sting of a rare season without a major title, had little positive to say about his opening round after battling to a three-birdie two-bogey 70.
The Deutsche Bank Championship is the second of four events in the PGA Tour's play-off series after the Barclays Classic, won by American Heath Slocum in New Jersey on Sunday.
Jeev 24th
India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa shot one-under 70 each in the third round of the Omega European Masters Saturday, while Shiv Kapur dropped two double bogeys but still managed a two-over 73. Jeev was placed 24th, Jyoti 33rd and Kapur was 47th.
Alexander Noren shot an eight-under 63 to get into sole lead at 15-under 198.