This was still better than a previously buoyant Colin Montgomerie, who endured a series of bogeys and double bogeys as he began the tournament with a dismal seven-over-par 77.

Tiger Woods was only two shots better than that and, in relation to par, that represented his worst-ever start to a major as a professional.

The world number one has not yet given up hope of becoming the first player in golf history to win three majors in a season twice – and it ought to be remembered that he came from seven behind at the Masters in April after opening there with a 74.

But he is way down outside the top 100 overnight and already eight adrift of the six joint leaders – Ben Curtis, Trevor Immelman, Rory Sabbatini, Stephen Ames, Stuart Appleby and, most worryingly for Woods, Phil Mickelson.

Greg Owen, Lee Westwood, last year’s Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer and Swede Jesper Parnevik are in the group just one behind – 47-year-old Langer after closing with an eagle.

Montgomerie blamed a lack of rhythm rather than the finger injury which forced him to pull out of last week’s Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles after just 13 holes.

“I didn’t have any timing from the word go,” said the Scot. “You can’t hit it the right distance if you are not timing it.

“But a 67 and I can get back into things. I normally have good rhythm, but never mind. I have not played much since the Open – only a few competitive holes - and it’s one of those things.

“If it does not work I will try again next week. That’s the beauty of this game.”

The next major, however, is next April and he will be approaching 43 by then.

Woods commented: “I just didn’t start off very well and it was a long day.

“All day I was grinding, but I stayed as patient as possible and I have three more days to get back into it. I will go home, relax and put this day behind me.”

Lee Westwood parred the first 12 holes, bogeyed the next, but finished with three birdies in four holes.

When he stood one under after five all seemed to be well for Montgomerie, but he then dropped nine strokes in the next 10 holes.

First he went from rough to sand on the 430-yard 15th for a bogey five, then he chipped over the green at the short 16th and from the other side stubbed his next attempt and moved the ball less than two feet.

That led to a double bogey five, but worst of all was the seven he ran up on the 554-yard 18th – arguably the easiest hole on the demanding New Jersey lay-out.

A carved drive into sand was followed by a pulled second which failed to make the carry over the water hazard which runs across the fairway.

Montgomerie’s fourth shot then went over the green, his chip was 12 feet short and another missed putt produced a back nine 40.

Woods also had unexpected trouble on the 18th. His hooked drive narrowly avoided the ditch and when he arrived at it he looked at the lie and, thinking somebody may have trodden on the ball, asked if he might be entitled to a free drop.

He called for a second opinion when one referee turned him down, but there was no change and after taking a penalty drop he could not make the green and played a poor chip. A bogey six resulted.

Paul Casey, who quit the US Open after an opening 85, did much better with a level-par 70, the same as world number two and defending champion Vijay Singh.