PGA Sposa leads Buick; Woods 4 back



Four golfers are one stroke behind the leader.
GRAND BLANC, Mich. (AP) -- Tiger Woods insists he is not superhuman on a golf course. The No. 1 golfer in the world has problems trusting himself with a club in his hand almost every day.
"I think that's what all golfers face," Woods said after shooting a 69 Thursday at the Buick Open. "You just don't quite feel comfortable with your swing and you find somehow to keep it manageable.
"I'm not where I want to be, but I know that was a lot of work to try and shoot the score I shot. If I can just go up there and trust my swing I'd be all right."
While Woods searches for the mechanics and confidence he'll need to win his first major this year in two weeks at the PGA Championship, Mike Sposa hopes he can be more than just a one-day story.
Sposa shot a 7-under 65 to take the lead.
Unusual spot
During his four-year career on the PGA Tour, he has shared a lead one time and held it alone once.
Sposa had a one-stroke lead after 36 holes at the Greater Greensboro Classic in 2001, but finished tied for 12th. When he shared a first-round lead in 2000, he finished tied for 48th.
"Obviously, I'm not thinking about winning the tournament," said Sposa, who missed the cut in four of his last five tournaments. "I'm thinking about going out and playing a solid round again.
Sposa's best showing this season was a tie for 10th at the Chrysler Classic of Tucson in March. His lone professional victory was on the Nike Tour in 1998, and his best-career finish on the PGA Tour was a tie for fourth last year in New Orleans.
The Teaneck, N.J., native has not made the cut in his four previous appearances at the Buick Open, and had never shot in the 60s at Warwick Hills before Thursday.
"I have never played good here," Sposa said. "I just can't putt these greens. But for the first time ever, I felt good over the putter on these greens. I really felt like I could make any putt."
Woods rebounds
Putting was the only part of Woods' game he felt comfortable with. The defending champion bogeyed his first and 10th holes before finishing with three birdies over his last six.
"I hit some pretty ugly shots," Woods said.
Woods is attempting to be the first repeat champion of the Buick Open since Tony Lema repeated at Warwick Hills, 60 miles north of Detroit, in 1965.
Carl Paulson, Craig Perks, David Sutherland and Paul Gow were one shot behind Sposa. Ten others were at 5-under.
Ben Curtis, playing in his first tournament since winning the British Open, was among a slew of players at 68.