<div><p>THOUSAND OAKS, California (Reuters) - Former Masters champion Zach Johnson, energized by a two-week break, charged into a share of the lead in the Chevron World Challenge first round on Thursday.</p><p>In the absence of troubled tournament host Tiger Woods, the straight-hitting Johnson took advantage of ideal scoring conditions to fire a four-under-par 68 at Sherwood Country Club.</p><p>Johnson ended a day of dazzling sunshine and hardly a breath of wind level with Britain's Ian Poulter, who held a two-shot lead over his 17 rivals in the elite field before double-bogeying the last.</p><p>Three-times major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland opened with a 69 to finish a stroke in front of Americans Jim Furyk and Stewart Cink and South Korean Yang Yong-eun.</p><p>"I wanted to come here fresh and that I am," Johnson told reporters after recording birdies on all four of the par-five holes at Sherwood.</p><p>"I took 16 days off before I hit a ball after (the) Disney (Classic), and most of it was by choice. There were a couple of times I could have practiced but I just didn't do it.</p><p>"I also wanted to come here on tangent, and this is tangent," added the 33-year-old American, who clinched his first major title at the 2007 Masters.</p><p>"My point this week is a week to get ready for the 2010 season and for me to work out. It's going well."</p><p>The absence from Sherwood of 14-times major champion Woods has been a major talking point for the players and the fans, and Johnson said the atmosphere was noticeably different.</p><p>"I think there's less of a buzz, as chaotic as it really might be if he had been here," Johnson said. "I wish he was here, granted, and there's certainly less media here."</p><p>World number one Woods pulled out of his own event on Monday, citing injuries from a mysterious car crash outside his Florida home last week as speculation began to escalate over his private life.</p><p>On Wednesday, Woods apologized for "transgressions" in a statement that apparently addressed allegations he had extra-marital relationships.</p><p>(Editing by Ian Ransom)</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=64698492&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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