The scene was similar to the last time Tiger Woods played against the world's best.

Fans packed onto every balcony on every level of the Riviera clubhouse, all of them straining for a rare sight of golf's biggest star.

Woods had them cheering even louder at the back end of his round.

He put on a show in his first competition in seven months, closing with three straight birdies and one big smile for a two-under 69 in the Genesis Invitational, leaving him five shots behind Max Homa and Keith Mitchell.

Woods went bunker-to-fairway-to-bunker on the 10th hole and had to make an 8-footer to save bogey.

He was wild off the tee for another bogey on the 12th, leaving him over par on a mild, breezy afternoon.

And then he looked like the Woods of old at the end - a tee shot to 5 feet on the par-3 16th, another birdie from 25 feet on the par-5 17th and then a big drive - a few yards longer than Rory McIlroy - on the 18th that set up 9-iron to 7 feet.

"I was able to fight back and get it going," Woods said. "It was a nice finish."

"I haven't played in a tournament in long time," Woods said.

"I didn't look up as much. I was trying to calm myself down all day, figure out what the hell I'm doing out here."

"I probably should have appreciated the fans more than I did, but there was so much going on in my head."

The group certainly helped. For the third time in his last four appearances at Riviera, Woods played alongside Justin Thomas and McIlroy, two of his closest friends in golf. They all birdied the 18th, McIlroy for a 67, Thomas for a 68.

Nine players did not complete their rounds before play was suspended due to darkness.

They will finish up Friday morning while the second round begins as scheduled.

Spanish star Jon Rahm is lurking behind the co-leaders following a round of 6-under 65.

Collin Morikawa made two late birdies to join Matt Kuchar and Harris English in a tie for fourth at 5-under 66.

Adam Scott matched Woods' 69 to be the best-placed Australian.

Scott, who is chasing a third victory at the Genesis Invitational, moved to three under before two late bogeys stopped his momentum.

He gained a shot back on the par-4 8th and closed with a par of the final hole to leave him in a tie for 27th.