St. Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom (AHN) – Tiger Woods got a little of his roar back Thursday at St. Andrews.
Tiger Woods Opening Round 67
The world's No. 1 player found himself near the top of the leaderboard after a five-under par 67 that left him wondering if it could have been lower.
"It could have been a pretty special round," Woods said after he missed a five-foot putt for par at difficult Road Hole (17th) then missed from four feet for par at the 18 where he nearly drove the green.
"I missed short putts at 17 and 18," Woods lamented. "You could be aggressive today. It could be had. It was like playing in a dome. There was no wind and we almost felt uncomfortable about that."
Woods knew the scores in the morning could be low. He noticed early what John Daly was doing.
"We saw JD on the leaderboard and we were laughing. It's good to see him there."
Daly shot 66 as did Scotland's Andrew Coltart.
When he saw the early low scores, Woods said he stayed patient. "It doesn't mean I have to go out and get it right now," he said of the early part of his round.
"I'm in a good spot," Woods observed as he said four behind leader Rory McIlroy, who buzzed the Old Course with a nine-under par 63 that tied the low round every shot in a major.
"It's two strokes harder in the afternoon," Woods predicted of the players in the second half of the draw.
"It was so odd to have it so calm" Woods said of the conditions.
Woods had three birdies going out and and three coming home on the final nine.
It was his first chance to have a bogey-free round this season but his drive at the Road Hole hooked far left. From the rough his second stopped in a good spot just short and right of the green.
He putted to five feet and totally missed the hole for par.
"I got underneath it," he said of his misfire.
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