By Mark Lamport-Stokes

SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - PGA Tour rookie Brandt Snedeker upstaged four-times champion Tiger Woods by charging two shots clear in the Buick Invitational first round on Thursday.

Playing two groups behind Woods on a calm day of low-scoring, Snedeker raced to the turn in a record-equalling 27 before completing an 11-under-par 61 on the North Course.

The 26-year-old from Nashville, Tennessee tied the course record set by fellow American Mark Brooks in 1990 by rattling up nine birdies and an eagle in a blemish-free round.

World number one Woods, playing his first tournament of the year at one of his favourite venues, recovered from a stumbling start to return a 66.

"It's pretty much a dream come true to have a round like that to launch my year," Snedeker told reporters.

"I played phenomenal golf, had some lucky breaks and made a bunch of putts. I had a blast out there. The whole front nine was a blur, though."

South Korea's Charlie Wi shot a 63 over the North Course to lie second with Australia's John Senden and American rookie Jeff Quinney a further stroke back in a tie for third.

Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal, champion here in 2002 and joint runner-up last year, was among a group of nine bunched on 65.

EASIER LAYOUT

The top 23 scores were achieved on the North Course at Torrey Pines, the easier of the two par-72 layouts hosting the fourth event on the PGA Tour.

One of the best performances, however, came from Colombia's Camilo Villegas with a five-under-par 67 on the 7,607-yard South Course, rated the fifth most difficult layout on last year's Tour.

Woods, bidding for a seventh consecutive victory on the PGA Tour, bogeyed two of his first three holes on the North Course after teeing off at the par-four 10th.

He then reeled off three consecutive birdies from the 14th before striking a superb long iron to within six feet of the flag at the par-five 18th to set up an eagle-three.

Out in three-under 33, the 31-year-old American birdied the second and eagled the ninth to finish at six under, level with former world number David Duval.

"I thought I did really well today," Woods said. "It took me probably three or four holes to get back into the flow of competition.

"I drove it consistent, hit a couple of loose iron shots here and there but, once I got my speed on the greens, I was able to make some putts."

BRIGHT SUNSHINE

Snedeker, making the most of near-perfect scoring conditions in bright sunshine, made a fast start with four birdies in his first four holes before eagling the 14th.

He then picked up further shots on 15, 16 and 18 to equal the PGA Tour record for nine holes with regard to par.

Compatriots Billy Mayfair, in the final round of the 2001 Buick Open, and Robert Gamez, in the third round of the 2004 Bob Hope Classic, also fired nine-under-par 27s.

Former U.S. Open champion Corey Pavin shot an eight-under-par 26 in the opening round of the last year's Milwaukee Championship.

Although Snedeker failed to maintain his red-hot start after the turn, further birdies on one and nine kept him at the top of the leaderboard.

"I'm rolling the ball great but holding the lead right now means absolutely nothing," Snedeker said.

"I've got three more days on a very tough golf course (the South) and it's going to be brutal."

Among the other big names, three-times champion Phil Mickelson carded a 74 over the South Course and world number six Vijay Singh opened with a 75, also over the South Course.