Shouldering the weight of expectation with apparent ease, Tiger Woods shot a stunning, six-under-par 65 to claim the first round lead in the 100th US Open here at cool and misty Pebble Beach yesterday. But not even the most enlightened observer could have envisaged the challengers in his wake.

When play was suspended in mid-afternoon because of fog, the world number one was a stroke clear of his closest rival, Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez. Further down the leaderboard, however, were aspirants who would be on everybody's list of yesterday's men.

Nick Faldo, who missed the cut in this event for the last two years, sprang into contention at four under par after 13 holes; Corey Pavin, the 1995 champion whose career appeared to have gone into terminal decline, was three under at that stage. Even Hale Irwin jostled for a share of the limelight, 12 days past his 55th birthday.

But the most remarkable among them was unquestionably Bobby Clampett, who got within three strokes of the leader after a marvellous 68. It was achieved by a man more familiar these days as a television commentator. "I basically retired from the Tour in the fall of '95 when I went to work for CBS on a full-time basis," he said. "I've played only one tournament in the last 21 months."

The 40-year-old, who hails from this area, went on to describe his first 10 holes as like "playing golf in heaven", as he hit every fairway and every green. But later in the day, John Daly would have had another location in mind as he carded no fewer than 14 strokes on the 18th to run up an 83.

Daly, who made three visits to the Pacific and is here on an exemption as the 1995 British Open champion, decided he had had enough. "We are very sorry that John's struggles at the end of his round today caused him to withdraw," was the diplomatic reaction of USGA official Marty Parkes.

It will be recalled that in a final round of 83 at Pinehurst last year, Daly ran up an 11 at the eighth hole and later vowed he would never again play in the US Open. Given his recent form, one suspects his plans for next year will arouse very little interest.

Darren Clarke had reached the turn at two over par when the fog became impenetrable. And the Tyroneman's position was a lot better than it might have been, given that a miserable start of bogey, par, double-bogey left him three over par at that stage.

He also dropped a stroke at the short seventh, which was playing considerably longer than its 106 yards when the wind freshened. But in between were birdies at the fourth and long sixth to lift his spirits for the long road ahead. Significantly, much of the hot scoring was done by early starters when the course was decidedly vulnerable. Not alone was there hardly a breath of wind; the frighteningly small greens were unusually receptive.

In the event, Hal Sutton found the most direct route to the opening cup when he holed an eight-iron second shot of 136 yards for an eagle two. After that, Sutton got to five under with a birdie at the short seventh and then he went to six under at the 13th, but the magic later deserted him as he slipped to a 69.

It was quite ironic that Faldo happened to be facing the long 14th when play was suspended. In the 1992 championship here, when he was tied fourth behind Tom Kite, Faldo lost a ball in a tree on the 14th and memorably made a vain attempt at retrieving it, on the way to a triple-bogey eight. Jimenez felt at home in an area once guarded by Spanish troops. But his well-being had nothing to do with a sense of history. "The fog is helping me because the sun can be very strong here," he said. "In today's weather you can play without sweating. That's nice."

It clearly suited the native of Malaga who carded five birdies in his first seven holes, launched by a chip-in three at the second. After that, he covered the remaining holes in level par, completing his round with a birdie, holing an 18-footer after a bunker recovery at the last.

Now, the challenge will be to put out of his mind the memory of an ill-fated duel with Woods in the American Express Championship at Valderrama last November, when, needing a par at the last for victory, he bogeyed and later lost the play-off. Meanwhile, when Woods carded three birdies in five holes from the 10th, one sensed the battle for the blue riband of American golf, had begun in earnest. Even by his lofty standards and allowing for the receptive nature of the course, it was an impressive performance.

Not only was it his best score in 18 rounds in this championship, but it was the best in a US Open at this venue. However, it fell two strokes short of the record first-round score of 63, recorded by Jack Nicklaus at Baltusrol in 1980. Indicative of long, straight hitting by the world number one was his play of the 573-yard 15th where two drivers were followed by a wedge to one foot for a birdie four. And he reduced the 543-yard 18th to a drive, four iron and a bunker recovery which finished within a foot of the pin.

Though four of his six birdies were from no more than a foot, Woods said: "It was one of those days when I made a lot of great putts and a lot of good up-and-down play." Clearly pleased with his effort, he went on: "It took a bit of luck as well.

As an aside, Woods went on to explain his absence from Wednesday's memorial ceremony for last year's champion, Payne Stewart, which drew considerable flak from the media here. "I won't react to the criticism," he said. "I loved the guy and I've handled it in my own way."

Woods, who was actually at the course at 6.30 a.m., half an hour before the memorial ceremony, added: "It was a time when I needed to focus on the things I need to focus on. Now it's time to finish with this. We have to move on."

Meanwhile, the belief that a new, short fifth hole, designed by Nicklaus, would both enhance the course and the smooth running of the championship, was somewhat misplaced. It was certainly pleasing to the eye during practice, but in competitive play, it created horrendous problems.

By midday, there were as many as four three-balls on the tee and the congestion was clearly compounded by a very difficult pin-placement back right. Eventually, in a desperate attempt at relieving the congestion, the organisers created a 30-minute break on the first tee - just when Clarke was about to tee off.

As Woods suggested, it promises to be a long weekend.