TOM LEHMAN thinks his low expectations for his game may have helped him to the six-under par 66 to lead the first round at the Mercedes Championships in California yesterday.

Lehman finished a stroke ahead of Paul Goydos and Jim Furyk, who had 67s. At three-under 69 were Fred Couples, Guy Boros and Justin Leonard. Tiger Woods led a group of eight players at two-under par 70.

The Mercedes is the opening event in the US PGA Tour's 1997 season, with 32 winners of 1996 tournaments composing the field.

Lehman is playing as though there was no two-month gap since the last official event - the `96 Tour Championship, which he won by six strokes.

"I started slow, didn't feel really focused," Lehman said. "The key to the round was that I didn't expect too much of myself. I didn't practice that much during the off-season. There was no pressure to play well, no huge expectations. But once you start making a few putts, the hole starts looking bigger and it all gets a bit easier."

Lehman, the British Open champion, the 1996 money leader and Vardon Trophy winner, is expected to be named PGA Tour Player of the Year at tonight's award ceremony.