(Saint Andrews) Tiger Woods’ second shot at the British Open fell in the section of water called Swilcan Burn; after that his round didn’t go much better.
Updated yesterday at 5:55 p.m.
Tournament champion in 2000, 2005 and 2006, Woods double-bogeyed on the first hole and another on the seventh.
He missed a short putt on the first hole; six holes later, he sent his ball into a bunker on the next hole.
Playing on the Old Course, he returned a 78 card, six strokes more than par.
The winner of 15 prestigious tournaments is unlikely to be able to play during the weekend, in what may be his last appearance at the event.
“Looks like I’m going to have to play 66 on Friday,” Woods said. It’s an achievable score, as we saw (Thursday). My responsibility is to do the same. »
Woods totaled five bogeys, including three on the back nine.
The first of his three birdies came on the ninth hole.
“There were a lot of greens where I didn’t hit the ball hard enough,” Woods said. They feel faster, but it’s a different dynamic than usual. »
Woods has been dealing with a patched right leg since his car accident in February 2021.
The 46-year-old golfer is in a third competition in 2022.
Woods showed frustration after missing a short putt at 12e hole ; on the next hole, he smirked as he missed the chance to score a par.
The leader is Cameron Young at 64, in his first appearance at the British Open.
PHOTO GLYN KIRK, AGENCY FRANCE-PRESSE
Cameron Young
The 25-year-old American has shown that talk of possible low scores at St. Andrews has merit.
Young got eight birdies, avoiding the bogey.
“I wasn’t perfect but still very good,” Young said. I believe that me and my caddy were thoughtful in our decisions. »
The American has missed qualifying for the weekend in five of his six career majors. In the other — the PGA Championship earlier this season — he tied for the lead after 13 holes in the final round before finishing third.
Rory McIlroy had three straight birdies from the fifth hole, placing second with a 66.
PHOTO ANDY BUCHANAN, FRANCE-PRESSE AGENCY
Rory McIlroy
Winner of the tournament in 2014, the Northern Irishman registered his only bogey in the 13e hole.
“With all the undulations on the course and everything, I think there will be some funny twists and turns throughout the tournament,” McIlroy said.
Cameron Smith and Robert Dinwiddie are third at 67, one stroke better than eight golfers.
Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, Zach Johnson and Justin Thomas are among those showing par, as is defending champion Collin Morikawa.
Canadian Corey Conners is 35eto -1.
The country is also represented by Mackenzie Hughes (73), who overcame a double bogey.
Justin Rose withdrew due to a back injury. He was replaced by the Japanese Rikuya Hoshino (75).
Pink, 50e in the world, seemed bothered by a back injury as he left the old course after his practice round on Wednesday.
The Englishman finished fourth as an amateur golfer at Royal Birkdale in 1998. He earned two more top 10 career at the British Open, in 2015 and 2018.
The famous Claret jug was first awarded 150 years ago to the British Open champion. It was placed on its base, Thursday morning, on the edge of the first teeing ground on the occasion of the kick-off of the prestigious major tournament.
Scotland’s Paul Lawrie, 1999 British Open champion, was selected to perform the ceremonial tee shot. He used a yellow ball and slammed it right down the fairway. This ball was common in 1860 during the first British Open, in Prestwick.