INZAI, Japan: Tiger Woods was in strong early-season form after a slow start with a 6-under 64 and was tied for the first-round lead at the Zozo Championship, the PGA Tour鈥檚 first tournament in Japan.

Woods was tied with Gary Woodland, with local favorite Hideki Matsuyama one stroke behind.

Teeing off the from the 10th hole, Woods got off to a shaky start on Thursday with three straight bogeys at the par-70 Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club.

鈥淚t鈥檚 always nice to get off to a quick start and figure it out from there,鈥� Woods said. 鈥淭he start I got off to wasn鈥檛 very good, I hit bad shot after bad shot ... and the next thing you know, things aren鈥檛 looking so good.鈥�

But the Masters champion quickly found his game, making birdies on four of his next six holes to get to 1-under, two strokes behind with nine holes to play.

鈥淎fter the start, the ball striking was better, the putting was really good,鈥� Woods said. 鈥淚 was hitting a lot of good putts, the ball was rolling tight which was nice.鈥�

Woods is making his first start in his 23rd season on the PGA Tour, needing one victory to reach 82 wins and tie the career record held by Sam Snead. He had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee two months ago 鈥� his fifth on the same problem spot.

Woods last played in an official tournament in Japan in 2006 at the Dunlop Phoenix, where he lost in a playoff to Padraig Harrington. He won the Dunlop Phoenix the two previous years.

鈥淭he people here in Japan and have come out and supported this event,鈥� Woods said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a lot of fun to play in front of them again, I haven鈥檛 done it in a while. I鈥檝e missed it. They鈥檝e always been fantastic with golf and supported their golf here.鈥�

The Zozo tournament is part of three tournaments that make up the PGA Tour鈥檚 Asia Swing, including the CJ Cup in South Korea won last week by Justin Thomas and the HSBC Champions in Shanghai next week.

Organizers said there were over 20,000 fans in attendance on the opening day.

Heavy rain from a storm over the Pacific Ocean is expected on Friday.