Steve Stricker was among eight players who had at least a share of the lead yesterday at the Deutsche Bank Championship in Norton, Mass. He also knew how much each shot mattered.

Standing in the 18th fairway, a stiff breeze in his face and the front of the green 230 yards away -- about 5 yards longer than the maximum distance he usually gets out of his hybrid -- he went for it anyway, and it paid off.

He was filled with uncertainty until the ball barely cleared a creek and bounced up to 5 feet for eagle, giving Stricker a 6-under 65 and a share of the lead with Retief Goosen and Sean O'Hair.

"I maxed that one out, and it turned out good," Stricker said.

His chances to win on Labor Day are equally tenuous.

Stricker has the goods; he already has won twice this year and finished one shot behind a week ago at The Barclays. Even so, there are two other guys tied for the lead who have won this year, and simply too many players within range for anyone to get a handle on how today will shake out at TPC Boston.

O'Hair overcame a scratchy start with birdies on two of the final three holes for a 70. Goosen, a two-time U.S. Open champion, had a chance to take the outright lead until a chunky bunker shot that kept him from getting up and down for birdie at the par-5 18th. He settled for a 68 to join the other leaders at 13-under 200.

"I needed a day like this today to get back into it," Stricker said.

Just about everyone else -- except Tiger Woods -- apparently had the same idea.

Woods struggled from the opening shot. He hit driver into the woods for a one-shot penalty, didn't make a birdie until the 15th and shot 1-over 72. That left him nine shots behind in a tie for 30th. Woods did not speak with reporters, going to the locker room to have his back stretched before heading to the putting green.

The gallery still has a rooting favorite among those trying to win. Padraig Harrington, cheered wildly in a region with a large Irish population, knocked in a long birdie putt at the 18th for a 67 and was among those one shot behind, along with Scott Verplank (68) and Kevin Na (66).

Jim Furyk, who had a share of the 36-hole lead with O'Hair, slumped to a 73 yet still was in the hunt. He was at 10-under 203.

• First Tee Open: Jeff Sluman overcame a six-stroke deficit at Pebble Beach, Calif., to successfully defend his title, acing the fifth hole and finishing with a 4-under 68 for a two-stroke victory. Sluman, who started the day tied for fifth after a second-round 73, had four birdies and the hole in one on the 187-yard fifth to finish at 10-under 206. Gene Jones shot a 70 to finish second. Tom Lehman (73) and Mark O'Meara (75) followed at 7 under.

• European Masters: Alexander Noren pitched in for an eagle on the 15th hole to shoot 6-under 66 and beat Bradley Dredge by two strokes in Crans-Sur-Sierre, Switzerland. Noren finished at 20-under 264. Dredge, the 2006 winner, shot 65. Ross McGowan had a 65 to finish third at 267.

• Canadian Women's Open: Suzann Pettersen closed with a 70 for a 15-under 269 total and a five-shot victory in Priddis, Alberta, her first LPGA Tour win in nearly two years. Pettersen, of Norway, maintained her margin over Momoko Ueda (65), Morgan Pressel (66), Ai Miyazato (67), Karrie Webb (69) and Angela Stanford (70).