Struggled in US Open 1R with 2 Birdies and 6 Bogeys
50% Greens in Regulation, 'Iron Shots in Trouble'
"No Sharpness at All on This Course"
The "Golf Emperor" Tiger Woods (USA) struggled in his third major tournament of the year.
Tiger Woods shows a disappointed expression at the 14th hole during the first round of the US Open. [Pinehurst, USA = EPA·Yonhap News]
On the 13th (local time), at the 2nd course of Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in North Carolina, USA (Par 70, 7,548 yards), Woods performed poorly in the first round of the 124th US Open (total prize money $20 million), shooting 4-over-par 74. He made 2 birdies and 6 bogeys. Before the tournament, Woods confidently stated in an interview, "I still have the strength to win," but now he is in a position where he must worry about missing the cut. Since shooting 1-under-par 69 in the second round of the 2022 PGA Championship, he has not recorded an under-par score for over two years.
Woods returned to the field about a month after failing to qualify at last month's PGA Championship, but contrary to expectations, his iron shot accuracy dropped sharply, causing difficulties. Although his tee shots only missed the fairway twice, his greens in regulation rate was only 50%.
The start was good. On the first hole he played, the 10th hole (Par 5), he energized himself by sinking a 3-meter birdie putt. However, on the 16th hole (Par 4), he sent his tee shot into the rough and missed the green, resulting in his first bogey. Then, on the 17th hole (Par 3), he lost another stroke with a three-putt.
In the back nine, he suddenly faltered with consecutive bogeys on holes 1 and 2, and another bogey on the 4th hole (Par 4). The birdie on the 5th hole (Par 5) recovered some strokes, but he lost them again with a bogey on the 8th hole (Par 4). Woods expressed regret, saying, "My iron shots were not good. I couldn't get close to the pin. I had none of the sharpness that is essential on this course."
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