Even after single-putting the last four greens and taking only 26 in all Woods, a lowly 46th in last week’s Bay Hill Invitational, was down in 109th place – and that was with two hours’ play left in the day at Sawgrass.

Yet the American superstar, having found just six of the 14 fairways and only seven of the 18 greens, still insisted afterwards that things are not as bad as they seem on the surface.

“I don’t feel I played poorly, that’s the funny thing,” said Woods, who trailed leader Adam Scott by 10 strokes.

“I’m hitting quality shots, but I seem to be in a stretch where all the breaks are going against me.”

Asked about the possibility of making an early exit from the event he won in 2001 and finished runner-up in 12 months earlier, Woods – now with four successive over-par rounds to his name – commented: “I just don’t want to make as many bogeys.

“I just need to get going a bit and if I get into red figures [under par] I will be alright.

“It was important to get something salvaged from the day and I was able to do that at the end.” He holed from 15 feet at the 16th and 18th, and from 12ft on the 17th.

The first of those was for birdie, the last for par, but in between it was for a bogey four after his nine-iron tee shot flew past the near-island green by almost 10 yards and went into the water.

“I was right at it, but I caught the wrong wind,” he tried to explain. “That’s kind of the way it goes.”

Scott, whose swing has been modelled on Woods under coach Butch Harmon, had eight birdies.

And the last of them on the 447-yard 18th – courtesy of a nine-iron to three feet – put him one ahead of Americans Duffy Waldorf and Kevin Sutherland. The former had finished, but Sutherland still had three holes to go.

Dane Thomas Bjorn led the 19-strong European contingent, his 67 putting him joint fourth and one shot ahead of both Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter, whose chip-in on the 18th enabled him to turn in a fine 32 on his debut in golf’s richest-ever event.

Scott, tied third at Bay Hill on Sunday, said: “I’m seeing my game improve and as long as that keeps happening you’re going to win some good events and become a great player.”

Defending champion Davis Love, who won by six last year, suffered a very unhappy return.

After hurting his back in practice, Love played the first four holes in five over and did well to cover the remainder in level par for a 77. He was still lying last in the clubhouse, however.

Darren Clarke birdied the first two holes, but finished with a 71 like Nick Faldo, while Paul Casey, Justin Rose, Luke Donald and Padraig Harrington all stood level par.

Paul Lawrie managed only a two-over 74 and Colin Montgomerie, partnering Poulter, was three over with eight to play.

Both took six at the 16th and Montgomerie, a winner in Singapore last Sunday, also went in the lake on the 18th, and did well to escape with only a bogey five after putting another ball down on the ladies’ tee.

Brian Davis, needing to stay in the world’s top 50 to secure a Masters debut in two weeks’ time, was really struggling – out in 42 to be six over and close to last.