‘I didn’t do a whole lot of things right’: Tiger Woods in danger of missing the cut after toiling Open start
The 48-year-old made a bright start amid wet and windy conditions at Royal Troon, parring twice before producing one of the shots of the day with a brilliant curling birdie putt from just off the green on the third hole.
Yet except for another birdie at the 13th, it was mostly misery for the 15-time major champion, as six bogeys and two double bogeys wrecked his early momentum.
Woods’ first double came at the par-three fifth after he got into bunker trouble, the second arriving at the 11th “Railway” hole after the American sent his tee drive skewing towards the train tracks running along the right side of the fairway – just as Rory McIlroy had done earlier.
It resigned the three-time Open winner to just his sixth career major round in which he has shot eight over or worse, according to ESPN.
With only the top-70 and ties after Friday’s second round securing passage to the weekend, Woods will require a huge turnaround if he is to avoid missing a third consecutive major cut for the second time in his career.
“I didn’t do a whole lot of things right today,” he told reporters Thursday.
“I didn’t hit my irons very close, and I didn’t give myself a whole lot of looks today. I need to shoot something in the mid-60s tomorrow to get something going on the weekend.”
Woods, who fell short of three consecutive major weekends in 2015, had arrived at Royal Troon adamant that he will play as long as he feels he can still win, shunning former world No. 2 Colin Montgomerie’s suggestion he should consider retiring.
This year marks the first since his 2021 car crash that Woods has competed at all four majors. In February, he had expressed his desire to compete in one tournament a month but – despite “physically feeling a lot better” than at the beginning of the year – has only competed in five official events in 2024.
“I just wish I could have played a little bit more, but I’ve been saving it for the majors just in case I do something pretty major and then take myself out of it,” Woods added Thursday.
“I thought I could play a little bit more earlier in the year. I think I was a little bit too optimistic. I need to do a lot more work in the gym and keep progressing like we have.”
Playing partner and May’s PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele, who shot an opening two-under 69, said he could empathize with Woods’ fight for sharpness.
“He’s making it as hard on himself as possible, and I know he’s hard on himself too,” world No. 3 Schauffele told reporters after his round.
“He’s got to learn a little bit more about his body, what he can and can’t do. I’m sure he’d like to prep more at home if his body would allow it ... I know what goes into it and what needs to be done to play at a high level. If your body is not letting you do it, it’s just frustrating.”
Schauffele ended Thursday four shots behind Daniel Brown as the Englishman carded a bogey-free 65 to surge into an early lead following his first ever round of major golf.
A closing birdie edged the world No. 272 one stroke ahead of Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who is chasing his second Claret Jug after victory in 2019.
Despite his love for sports, Tiger Woods unfortunately struggled with his golf game during the tournament, with multiple bogeys and double bogeys marring his performance. Excited fans often gather at golf courses, hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite players, including Tiger, who is known for his impressive skills on the course.
