A (RE)START OF SOMETHING BIG VETERANS TAKE WILLIAMS WORLD CHALLENGE LEAD.

Byline: Dave Shelburne Staff Writer

THOUSAND OAKS - Creak. Groan. Plunk.

The old guys might know their limitations, but that didn't stop them from holing putts at a near-record pace and leading one of golf's top fields in the opening round of the Williams World Challenge.

Mark O'Meara, 44, and Fred Couples, 42, both came within two shots of the tournament record Thursday with 6-under-par 66s at Sherwood Country Club, where thick roughs and fast greens put low scores at a premium.

Playing as sponsor exemptions in an 18-man field that includes the top 12 available players from the world rankings, O'Meara and Couples combined for 12 birdies and an eagle to finish two strokes ahead of Vijay Singh, Scott Verplank and tournament host Tiger Woods.

``How about that?'' Woods said of his aging co-leaders, who both are attempting to repair sagging games that once ranked among the best in the world.

Couples, a two-time PGA Tour Player of the Year who was Masters champion in 1992, has not won since 1998 and struggled to regain the putting touch that once complemented his strong tee-through-green play.

O'Meara, a Florida neighbor and good friend of Woods, has struggled similarly with commitment in recent years while weighing television opportunities and watching younger players hit farther and farther.

``I must admit I've been in a little bit of a fog about my commitment,'' said O'Meara, who credited pep talks from Woods for helping to renew the focus that contributed to O'Meara winning the Masters and British Open and tour Player of the Year honors in 1998.

Couples found help watching Paul Azinger at this year's PGA Championship. Couples borrowed Azinger's belly putter for a practice stroke and knocked his first putt into the cup. Soon after that, Couples obtained his own belly butter, continued to enjoy success and, with that, a confidence boost.

``Even the ones that don't go in, I hit well,'' he said. ``I think that's really what every putter would like to do and I'm feeling much more confident in everything, just by putting better.''

Couples' growing confidence got another big boost on No. 18 when he rolled in a long par-saving putt to join playing partner O'Meara atop the first-round leaderboard.

``I'd like to, obviously, continue to play well the next three days and win,'' Couples said, ``but, in reality, I want to keep putting like this and look at a whole picture - a whole year.''

O'Meara, also, is looking at the big picture, although he would love to win the tournament hosted by his regular practice partner.

``I know my stats aren't good and my world ranking isn't good,'' he said. ``But if I focus. ...''

O'Meara had focus early and often Thursday, draining a 30-foot eagle putt on the 534-yard, par-5 fifth hole to take a lead he would not lose. He finished 5 under par on Sherwood's five par-5s, which were expected to be the advantage holes for the tournament's longer hitters.

O'Meara offset any comparative distance shortcomings with solid all- around play, which included a birdie from a bunker on the 531-yard, par-5 second hole and a 15-foot birdie putt on the 457-yard, par 4 14th.

``I drove the ball well, kept in play, hit good irons and made some putts,'' he said.

Ditto for his playing partner, Couples, who had five birdies on a bogeyless back nine of 31 capped by his remarkable uphill par-saving putt from nearly 40 feet.

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Photo:

David Duval chips a shot toward the fifth hole at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks on first day of the Williams World Challenge.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press