DORAL, Fla. — Tiger Woods was on his game, and so were most of the world best golfers Thursday in the Cadillac Championship.

Except for the world’s No. 1 player.

Woods made nine birdies on the Blue Monster at Doral for a 6-under 66 that put him in a five-way share of the lead with Masters champion Bubba Watson, former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, Sergio Garcia and Freddie Jacobson.

This World Golf Championship lived up to its name with Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker and Hunter Mahan among those one shot behind.

But it was another rough day for Rory McIlroy.

He hit three fairways and made six bogeys that kept him at par or worse on a perfect day for scoring. Despite making a 15-foot eagle putt on the par-5 first hole, and lacing a 5-iron over the water for another eagle attempt on the par-5 eighth that narrowly missed, the best he could manage was a 73.

McIlroy has yet to break par this year.

“It was a bit of a struggle, to be honest,” McIlroy said. “Hit some good shots. Hit some not-so-good shots. As I’ve been saying all week, this is a work in progress and I’m working at it and I’m staying patient.”

Coming off a pedestrian performance a week ago at the Honda Classic, Woods looked sharp in most aspects of his game, except for a few lapses with his chipping. He wasted two early birdies with a three-putt bogey on the 13th hole and a delicate flop shot that he flubbed on the 14th, leading to another bogey. His chip up the slope on the third didn’t reach the green for another bogey.

Kim leads Web.com stop

At Santiago, Chile, Whee Kim of South Korea holed his first wedge shot of the day for an eagle, then birdied his next hole as he matched a course record with an 8-under 64 to take the opening-round lead in the Chile Classic in Santiago.

Two tied in Puerto Rico

At Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, Andres Romero made two late bogeys to drop into a tie for the Puerto Rico Open lead with Cameron Percy at 7-under 65.