Stenson takes charge at Sherwood Country Club

THOUSAND OAKS, California, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Sweden's Henrik Stenson birdied three of the last four holes to move two shots clear in the first round of the Target World Challenge on Thursday.

The 30-year-old from Gothenburg, taking advantage of near-perfect conditions at a sun-drenched Sherwood Country Club, fired a flawless six-under-par 66.

U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy also got to six under but double-bogeyed the last for a 68 to share second place with world number one and tournament host Tiger Woods.

Big-hitting American John Daly was a further stroke back in a tie for fourth with compatriot Fred Couples and British duo Colin Montgomerie and Paul Casey.

Woods, competing on U.S. soil for the time since winning the Deutsche Bank Championship in early September, rattled up five birdies and a bogey on his way to a 68 but was unhappy with his performance on the greens.