ST ANDREWS, Scotland (Reuters) -Tiger Woods made a dismal begin to his British Open bid as he carded two early double-bogeys on the best way to a six-over-par 78 that left him 14 photographs behind the chief on Thursday.
The American 15-times main champion, who has gained the Open twice at St Andrews, seemed out of types from the second he discovered the water on the par-four first gap and began with a six on his card.
“It seems like I did not actually hit it that unhealthy. I did have unhealthy velocity on the greens, sure,” Woods informed reporters. “But I ended up in unhealthy spots. Or simply had some bizarre issues occur. And that is simply the best way it goes.”
Woods, who returned to aggressive golf in April on the Masters 14 months after struggling severe accidents in a automobile crash, missed final month’s U.S. Open to arrange for the British Open.
But the 46-year-old seemed pensive as he trudged across the Old Course and bogeys on the third and fourth holes took him to 4 over par earlier than he did not gap a brief putt on the seventh inexperienced to rack up one other six.
Things did begin to enhance across the flip nevertheless.
He sank a six-foot putt to birdie the ninth, grinning broadly as he acknowledged heat applause from the group and using the momentum to choose up one other shot on the tenth.
Woods bogeyed the thirteenth, although, and narrowly missed a protracted eagle putt on the par-five 14th, settling for his third birdie of the spherical.
A wild tee shot on the sixteenth landed within the heavy tough and price him one other shot earlier than he safely negotiated the final two holes and raised his cap to the packed galleries across the 18th inexperienced.
The significance of the venue was not misplaced on Woods.
“(It was) very, very significant,” he stated, “All issues thought of, the place I’ve been, I hoped I might play this occasion this 12 months. And I’m. I simply did not do an excellent job of it.”
He additionally appreciated the assist.
“The crowd had been completely incredible,” he stated. “So supportive. They had been very respectful and really appreciative of all of us on the market right this moment, which was nice.”
Tied for 145th place within the 156-man area, Woods must make up appreciable floor if he’s to keep away from lacking the midway minimize on the scene of two of his best triumphs, in 2000 and 2005.
“Looks like I’m going to need to shoot 66 tomorrow to have an opportunity,” he stated. “Guys did it right this moment. And that is my duty tomorrow to go forward and do it.”
(Reporting by Ed Osmond; Editing by Ken Ferris)
