Bristol’s Chris Wood overcame pain from a nagging bulging disc to muscle his way to a share of third place on the opening day of the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

Wood, 25 has been undergoing spinal injections for the past three years and has to take pain-killers before each round to combat a bulging disc in his back.

However the reigning Qatar Masters champion put the pain aside on his Firestone debut to post five birdies including three in succession at the start of his back nine to be tied with namesake and seven-time Bridgestone champion, Tiger Woods and also fellow Englishman Luke Donald.

Reigning Commercial Bank Qatar Masters champion Chris Wood shoots a 66 on day one of 2013 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

Former US Open champ, Webb Simpson leads with a score of a six under par 64 and one clear of Sweden’s Henrik Stenson.

Stenson, who was runner-up in last fortnight’s Open Championship, was forced to change his shoes close to the end of his round due to a blister.

Wood has played just six events since winning at the start of the year in Doha due to his injury.

“I get pain all the way down my left side from the bulging disc, so it’s not great for hitting through the ball,” he said.

“It first happened three years ago and I had my third injection mid-May this year but it’s only recently I’ve come to manage it a bit more properly.”

Wood had just 25 putts in his round and revealed the extent he went to last week to prepare for his two week stint in the States.

“After a miserable putting display at Muirfield, I got the greens keeper, James Braithwaite at my Long Ashton club to double cut and roll the practice putting green every day ahead of my two weeks over here,” he said.

“It will probably mean all the members leaving putts about five to six feet short out on the course but I’ve promised a cider voucher to all the members in the club.”

And Lee Westwood returned to competition for a first time since letting slip victory in The Open with a one over par 71 and the same score as Rory McIlroy.