iger Woods knows he will need a huge turnaround to get to the halfway point of the 150th Open after struggling to an opening of 78 at St Andrews†
Returning to the scene of two of his three Open wins, in 2000 and 2005, Woods carded three birdies, five bogeys and two double bogeys in a round that took six hours and eight minutes.
The 15-time big winner never recovered from a nightmarish start, hitting his approach to the first, of a fairway divot, in the Swilcan Burn in front of the green.
“Probably the highest score I could have shot,” said the 46-year-old. “I hit a good tee shot down, landed in the middle of a fresh divot and I hit a good shot. Gusts hit it and ended up in the burn, starting with a double.
“I think I had maybe four or five three-putts today. Just wasn’t very good on the greens. And I missed every putt. I struggled to hit the putts hard enough.
“The greens were very firm but slow and it’s an interesting combination. And we weren’t exactly speed demons either. The whole round was long and we were hounded. And it was a long, slow day.”
Woods praised the unwavering support of the public and admitted it was “very, very meaningful” to be able to play the Old Course again after the serious injuries he sustained in a car accident last February.
“All things considered, where I’ve been, I was hoping to be able to play this event this year,” he added.
“When I look at it at the beginning of the year, late last year, when I was in rehab, trying to see if I could do it, I was somehow able to play two of the big championships between then and now, which was great. †
“But this was always on the calendar to hopefully be good enough to play it. And I am. And just didn’t do that well.
“Looks like I have to shoot 66 tomorrow to have a chance (to make the cut). Obviously it’s done, guys did it today, and that’s my responsibility to go ahead and do it tomorrow. Must do it.”
Play partner Matt Fitzpatrick, the most recent big winner after his success at the US Open, was less than impressed with the length of the round. He saw the last to shoot a level par round of 72.
‘It’s just a joke, isn’t it? Like six hours, 10 (minutes). This should just never happen in golf,” Fitzpatrick said.
“It’s the way the golf course is set up. It’s how sturdy it is. The way the golf course is designed.
“You cross a lot and to get better angles and better lines you have to hit all the fairways.
“Unfortunately there is nothing you can do about it. It’s just sadder than anything. It’s just ridiculous.”
Additional coverage by PA Sport.