TROON, Scotland – The first round of Tiger Woods’ likely last start of the season began with inconsistency and ended with a familiar thud.
Following a birdie at the third hole to join a small group of players in red figures at The Open, Woods struggled on a windy and wet day with bogeys at Nos. 4, 7 and 8 and a double-bogey 5 at the sixth, for an outward 40. Things weren’t much better on the inward loop and he finished with an 8-over 79 that left him tied for 140th in the 156-player field.
“I didn’t do a whole lot of things right today. I made that putt on the third hole, and then I think I had, what, three three-putts today,” Woods said. “I didn’t hit my irons very close, and I didn’t give myself a whole lot of looks today.”
Woods has made just one cut in his previous four starts this season and has failed to post an under-par round as he continues his comeback from multiple surgeries. He seemed to suggest that the struggle now is playing enough competitive golf to be sharp when it matters the most in major championships.
“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,” he said, before adding, “I’m physically feeling a lot better than I did at the beginning of the year.”
PGA champion Xander Schauffele (69) played alongside Woods in Round 1 and noted that Woods is “making it as hard on himself as possible, and I know he’s hard on himself too. It’s just hard. I think he’s just learning. He’s got to learn a little bit more about his body, what he can and can’t do.”
Schauffele was referring to the fact that Woods is playing almost exclusively in major championships. Woods has played just two non-major PGA Tour events – the Genesis Invitational, which he hosts – the last three seasons.
“I’m sure he’d like to prep more at home if his body would allow it,” Schauffele said. “This is all stuff — I’m not sure he tells you guys this stuff or not. But as a tour pro now, I kind of 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. I’m sure he’s trying to figure that out.”