Tiger Woods starts his U.S. Open campaign with a 4-over 74.
Tiger Woods acknowledges the crowd following his birdie on the par-5 10th hole. (Photo credit: Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR)
Tiger Woods' first-round 74 at Pinehurst No. 2 on Thursday mirrored his performances earlier this season. While there were glimpses of his old form, suggesting his pursuit of a 16th major is within reach, these flashes were overshadowed by a few too many errant shots. It's a reminder that Woods has yet to shake off all the competitive rust.
Starting ideally with a birdie on the 10th hole, briefly putting him in the lead, Woods followed with five consecutive pars. However, bogeys at the 16th and 17th holes derailed his momentum. His card included five bogeys in seven holes, erasing any chance of staying at the top of the leaderboard. Woods now faces a tough grind on Friday to make the cut, similar to his efforts at the Masters (successful) and PGA Championship (unsuccessful) earlier this year.
"I'm physically getting better as the year has gone on," Woods commented post-round. "I just haven't been able to play as much because I just don't want to hurt myself pre-tournament, then I won't be able to play in the major championships. It's pick your poison, right? Play a lot with the potential of not playing, or not playing and fight being not as sharp."
Despite hitting 12-of-14 fairways and gaining strokes off the tee, Woods struggled with his approach play, only hitting nine greens. His putting was also ineffective, with seven birdie attempts outside 30 feet failing to convert.
The focus remains on Woods' ability to sustain through a major championship and quickly shake off competitive rust to contend for 72 holes. While his tee shots were strong, questions persist about his overall game.
"I didn't hit my irons particularly well. Didn't putt that great. Drove it on the string all day. Unfortunately, I just didn't capitalize on it," Woods lamented.
This marks only Woods' fourth start of the PGA TOUR season, having withdrawn from The Genesis Invitational in February and finishing 60th at the Masters in April. His history at Pinehurst No. 2 includes a third-place finish in 1999 and runner-up in 2005, but he remains far from replicating those achievements.
Here are the hole-by-hole updates of Woods' first round:
12:50 p.m.: Woods finishes his first round with a 74, dropping another shot on the 17th before a par save on the 18th. He showed flashes of form, especially off the tee, but inconsistent approach play and putting cost him on a challenging course. Woods will battle the cutline on Friday.
12:22 p.m.: Despite struggles with approach play, Woods grinds on. He misses another green on the seventh hole but saves par with a solid bunker shot and putt. Woods has hit only 9-of-16 greens so far.
12:02 p.m.: Woods finds his putting touch on the sixth hole, sinking a long birdie putt after a solid tee shot. It's a much-needed boost after a string of bogeys.
11:37 a.m.: Woods bounces back with a birdie on the fifth hole, showcasing glimpses of his old self. His approach game remains a challenge, but he's fighting to stay in contention.
10:56 a.m.: A bogey on the 11th hole halts Woods' momentum, as he struggles to get up and down. The challenge will be to stabilize his game and avoid spiraling downward.
10:26 a.m.: After bogeys on two of the last three holes on the front nine, Woods starts the back nine with another bogey. His putting needs improvement to get back on track.
9:50 a.m.: Woods wraps up the front nine with even-par 36, highlighted by solid driving but inconsistent putting. He's hanging tough despite challenges.
9:18 a.m.: Woods continues to navigate Pinehurst with steady play, hitting greens but facing lengthy birdie attempts. Par is good on these challenging greens.
8:45 a.m.: A conservative approach on the 13th leads to a par, showcasing Woods' strategic play. Short game remains crucial on Pinehurst's demanding layout.
8:29 a.m.: Woods struggles with approach shots on the 12th, but a strong recovery and solid putting save par. His short game is crucial in maintaining momentum.
8:10 a.m.: Woods starts strong with a birdie on the 10th, utilizing precise driving and solid putting to seize an early advantage.
7:51 a.m.: Woods begins his round with a birdie on the par-5 10th, setting a positive tone early in the day. His approach game will be critical on Pinehurst's challenging layout.
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