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PARAMUS, N.J. — Of all of the signs of how far Tiger Woods has fallen from his perch atop the golf world, among the most discussed was his tee time Thursday in the first round of the Barclays: 7:10 a.m. That was long before the grandstands filled with spectators and television coverage began.
Ryan Palmer shot a 66. He had seven birdies on the front nine but was two over on the back.
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But more significantly, it was long before the sun rose high in the sky and started to dry out the rain-soaked Ridgewood Country Club course.
Woods, who finished tied for the lead with Vaughn Taylor after a six-under-par 65, was not the only player to benefit from the remarkably soft conditions Thursday, especially early on, when the spongy fairways and greens afforded golfers an unusual margin for error.
