NORTON, Mass. — Steve Stricker was among eight players who had at least a share of the lead yesterday in the Deutsche Bank Championship. 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 last week 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 the TPC Boston.

O'Hair overcame a scratchy start with birdies on two of the last 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 hole and shot 1-over 72. That left him nine shots behind in a tie for 30th. Woods did not speak to 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).

"There's a saying, 'There's 5 million people in Ireland and 40 million in the States,' and I think those 40 million people live in Boston," Harrington said. "There's great support here. "

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.

ELSEWHERE

Pettersen ends two-year drought: Norway's Suzann Pettersen won the Canadian Women's Open for her first LPGA Tour win in nearly two years, closing with a 1-under 70 for a five-stroke victory at Priddis Greens in Alberta. Pettersen finished at 15-under 269. Since winning five times in 2007, she had six runner-up finishes, including a playoff loss last weekend in Oregon. Momoko Ueda (65), Morgan Pressel (66), Ai Miyazato (67), Karrie Webb (69) and Angela Stanford (70) tied for second.

Big comeback spurs Sluman: Jeff Sluman overcame a six-stroke deficit yesterday at Pebble Beach, Calif., to successfully defend his Walmart First Tee Open title, acing the fifth hole and finishing with a 4-under 68 for a two-stroke victory in the Champions Tour event. Sluman had four birdies and the hole-in-one on the 187-yard fifth to finish at 10-under 206. Second-round leader Loren Roberts (78) tied for fifth.

Noren wins first on European tour: Sweden's Alexander Noren won the Omega European Masters for his first European tour title, eagling the 15th hole and shooting a 6-under 66 for a two-stroke win over Wales' Bradley Dredge (65) at Crans-Sur-Sierre, Switzerland. Noren finished at 264.

Choi earns LPGA Tour card: South Korea's Song Yi Choi won the Futures Tour's season-ending ILOVENY Championship at Albany, N.Y., yesterday to finish fifth on the money list and earn one of 10 2010 LPGA Tour cards available on the developmental tour. Choi shot 70—205 for a one-stroke victory over Libby Smith (68).