The world No. 1 was then asked about comments about her from American starlet Sloane Stephens.
The World No.5 from China beat America's Bethanie Mattek-Sands in straight sets 6-4 6-3.
"As we know, the world No. 1, you don't get that gifted, " he added.
"I played like a pig and got away with murder, " the world No. 7 said.
"Just personally in terms of my mental approach, that was huge, " the world No. 1 said.
Woods, the world No. 2, didn't fare any better, losing to Charles Howell III.
CNN: Nike duo Woods and McIlroy humbled in the Arizona desert
The world No. 13 has won all 24 sets he has played during his three title-winning campaigns.
But the World No.1 says he will improve when he steps out for his second round Friday.
The second set was equally competitive with the world No.6 eventually prevailing in a more even tiebreak contest.
And after the continuing fiasco that is Guantanamo, the world no longer looks to America for moral leadership.
Despite nursing an injured wrist, the world No.8 trounced Radek Stepanek 6-4 6-4 6-2 at the Parque Roca stadium.
He suffered a career-threatening shoulder injury several years ago, but returned to become the world No. 1 in 2010.
The world No. 3 will next play Japan's Kei Nishikori, who he beat in last year's Australian Open quarterfinals.
The world No. 36 came from one set down to beat Italian 21st seed Andreas Seppi 7-5 6-3 6-2 6-2.
Serving at 4-5 and down two match points, the world No. 1 blistered three straight points to square it up.
Millennials fully embrace the responsibility to reshape the role America plays in the world no matter what challenges lie ahead.
FORBES: Millennials: Turning Outwards to Reshape America's Role in the World
This means that they can offer the world no assurances about either Iran's past nuclear intentions or its present ones.
The world No. 1 blamed his poor play this year on his swing and self-imposed pressure, not his new Nike clubs.
If he needed confirmation there was Roger Federer, the world No. 1, winner of 17 Grand Slams, standing across the net.
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The World No.1 was at his relentless best to avoid a repeat of his defeat to Murray in Dubai last month.
"Now here's a site, the sphinx and the pyramids, probably the most famous ancient site in the world no map, " Ludwig says.
The world No. 13 told the tournament's Web site that he was unsure if he would take part in next week's Sydney International.
The World No.1 hit his third shot onto the par-five 15th only for it to hit the stick and rebound into the pond.
"It wasn't easy for the both of us with the heat and the wind, " said the world No. 2, who is seeded third.
The other two top seeds, South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen and England's Luke Donald, the world No. 3, went safely through to round two.
CNN: Nike duo Woods and McIlroy humbled in the Arizona desert
But when cell phones hit it big, the world no longer needed a device that beeped whenever your best friend needed to chat.
The world No. 26 will next play fellow left-hander Lucie Safarova after the Czech upset Polish eighth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 1-6 6-3 7-6 (7-2).
The world No. 13, who tied for eighth at Augusta, was four shots behind the leaders after shooting par 72 in Thursday's opening round.
The world No. 3 had four straight birdies from the fifth to turn in 32 and his only dropped shot came at the 10th.
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