MIAMI (Reuters)

SWEDEN'S HENRIK Stenson birdied two of his last three holes to share the lead with Australian Robert Allenby after a wet and windswept first round at the WGC-CA Championship yesterday.

Stenson, who underlined his status as one of the best in the game by winning last month's WGC-Accenture Match Play, and Allenby fired five-under-par 67s on a day of survival and damage limitation at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa.

Hot on their heels was Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, who carded a five-birdie 68. Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal, American Charles Howell III and Aaron Baddeley of Australia were a further stroke behind in a tie for fourth.

Ernie Els, the 2004 champion, and world number two Jim Furyk opened with 70s and five-times winner Tiger Woods battled to a 71.

Although preferred lies were in operation because of wet fairways, only 15 players in the 73-strong field broke par on a gruelling day of sporadic showers and winds that gusted up to 50 kph.