Tiger Woods struggled in the opening round of the British Open at Royal Troon, finishing with an 8-over 79 and putting himself at risk of missing the cut for the third consecutive time at the tournament. The 15-time major champion expressed his disappointment, acknowledging that he needs to shoot in the mid-60s in the next round to have a chance of making the weekend.
Woods' performance marked his highest score to start a major since the 2015 U.S. Open, with an average score of 75.4 in majors this year. Despite a brief moment of brilliance with a 36-foot birdie putt at the third hole, Woods struggled with three 3-putts and missed opportunities with his irons throughout the round.
Supportive fans cheered him on as he navigated through the challenging course, but Woods faced setbacks with bogeys and double bogeys, including a difficult situation at the 11th hole where he incurred a penalty and ended up with another double bogey. His round concluded with back-to-back bogeys, leaving him with an uphill battle heading into the second round.
Having undergone multiple surgeries on his lower back, Woods emphasized feeling physically better than earlier in the year but expressed frustration at not being able to play more. He highlighted his focus on major tournaments and his hope for a better performance in the future.
Fellow golfer Xander Schauffele, who played alongside Woods, acknowledged the challenges Woods faces due to his physical limitations and emphasized the importance of understanding one's body for peak performance. Woods, Schauffele, and Patrick Cantlay are set for a quick turnaround as they tee off early in the second round on Friday.
Woods' struggles at the British Open reflect his ongoing battle with injuries and the difficulties of competing at the highest level. As he continues to navigate his comeback in professional golf, fans and observers will be watching closely to see how he responds in the remainder of the tournament.
