Harrington and Woods in chasing pack

Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington were two shots off the lead after the first round of the BMW Championship in Illinois today.

The duo were among six players three under par after rounds of 68, with South African Rory Sabbatini and American Steve Marino sharing the lead on five-under.

One shot back were Bo van Pelt and Australian Marc Leishman.

Sabbatini bogeyed the first and fifth but seven birdies, including two back-to-backs on the third and fourth and seventh and eighth, were enough to earn him a share of the early lead.

Marino's bogey four on the second was his only dropped shot with six birdies helping the 29-year-old to his 68.

Ian Poulter and Anthony Kim were among eight players tied for 11th on two-under while Poulter's countryman Luke Donald was a shot further back.

Ernie Els was among the strugglers as he hit five bogeys in a four-over-par 75.

American Ryder Cup winners JB Holmes and Kenny Perry also endured bad days and were seven- and six-over-par respectively.