Tiger Woods is one-over par at the US Open but the 48-year-old is battling hard at a brutal Pinehurst setup in North Carolina.
The three-time US Open winner, 48, began round one at 7:29am local time in North Carolina and despite the early start, fans flocked to get a glimpse of Woods.
He teed off alongside Matt Fitzpatrick, 29, the 2022 US Open champion, and Will Zalatoris, 27 – and outdrove them both with his opening tee shot. He wrapped up his opening hole with a precious birdie on tough course.
After a couple of encouraging par saves, Woods gave that shot back with bogey on 17 and then made another in 18. It tarnished what has been a solid start for the 15-time Major winner.
However, he couldn’t stop the bleeding with back-to-back bogeys opening his back nine at the first and second. He continued his plummet down the leaderboard with another dropped short at the par-four fourth after missing the par save from five feet.
Three-time US Open winner Tiger Woods is underway at the US Open in North Carolina
It was an early start for Woods, 48, but the crowds were still out in force to see him play
After making the cut and finishing last at Augusta, Woods missed the cut at the PGA Championship in May. But he arrived at Pinehurst in a bullish mood about his chances this week.
‘I feel like I have the strength to be able to do it,’ he said. ‘It’s just a matter of doing it.
‘This golf course is going to test every single aspect of your game, especially mentally.
‘We’ve been working on that and making sure that I understand the game plan and be ready in two more days. It’s like home. Hot and humid is what we deal with every single day at home in Florida, so that’s nothing new.
‘It’s just making sure that I keep hydrated and the mental tax that the heat will bring. It’s going to bring it to all of us, not just me. Everyone is going to be tested.
‘It’s going to make for long rounds with the falloffs and run-offs on the greens. The rounds time-wise are going to be a little bit longer. Then when you’re out in the heat for that length and period of time, that’s going to take a little bit of wear and tear.’
Woods arrived on Sunday to examine the Pinehurst No. 2 course and his son Charlie, 15, has even been helping him prepare for the third Major of the year.
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