Tracking Tiger: Can Tiger Woods make a run Friday at The Open Championship?

USA TODAY

Published 11:25 p.m. UTC Jul 20, 2018

After a top-five finish earlier this month at the Quicken Loans National, Tiger Woods is back on the course this week looking for his first major championship victory since the 2008 U.S. Open.

The 14-time major champion is competing in golf's third major, The Open Championship, this week at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland. Tiger opened play on Thursday with an even par 71, shooting 2-over on the back nine after a 2-under 34 on the front.

Tiger last played The Open in 2015, missing the cut and finishing 137th. His career at Carnoustie includes a T47 at the 1995 Scottish Open, he missed the cut the following year, then finished T7 at the 1999 Open Championship and T12 at the 2007 Open.

Tiger tees off at 5:20 a.m. ET alongside Hideki Matsuyama and Russell Knox. Follow along for shot-by-shot analysis of his opening round.

Hole 7 - Par 4

Tiger goes back to an iron off the tee but loses this one right, too. He's in the thick rough with a little over 200 yards to go, and his second shot comes up short of the green, leaving a little flip wedge that nestles within a few feet of the cup. He taps in for a great par save to remain even thru 7 (Even for the tournament).

Hole 6 - Par 5

Another driver for Tiger, and this one goes right, way right in the rough. His second shot from the rough is solid, finding the fairway and leaving a wedge into the green. Tiger's ball landed in a divot, and he plays it safe, finding the green but well-below the hole. Not a whole lot happening here, normal two putt par from distance. Even thru 6 (Even for the tournament)

Hole 5 - Par 4

Tiger's tee shot is solid, right down the middle of the fairway, but not as far as his playing partners. From 183-yards out and the wind at his back, he throws an 8-iron up into the wind and finds the green. He's below the hole with another look at birdie. Here we go! Tiger gives this one a roll and it drops for his second consecutive birdie to get back to even par on the day thru 5 (Even for the tournament).

Hole 4 - Par 4

With the grounds not nearly as dry, Tiger seems to be going for distance over safety, pulling driver again on No. 4. His one is ripped down the fairway, and judging by the club twirl, he likes it. Tiger drops his approach shot within 15 feet of the cup and puts a little spin on it, bringing the ball back past the hole for a solid look at a much-needed early birdie. This one was a little more straight than Tiger expected, but it falls for birdie. 1-over thru 4 (1-over for the tournament).

Hole 3 - Par 4

Needing a bounce-back hole after a tough go on No. 2, Tiger's iron off the tee finds the left fairway on top of a little hill. Useful shot here. His approach is good, not great, finding the green around 20-30 feet from the hole. He left a handful of birdie putts short yesterday, but didn't make the same mistake here. Tiger gave this one a ride but rolls 5 feet past the cup. Oh no, this one just misses left, about one revolution of the ball away from dropping for par. That's another bogey. Ouch. 2-over thru 3 (2-over for the tournament).

Hole 2 - Par 4

Whoa, driver here for Tiger on No. 2. After staying conservative almost all day yesterday, he goes for this one but finds the right rough. His second shot wasn't pretty. He barely gets it out of the rough and hits it maybe 100 yards forward and into the crowd. He drops his approach to the center of the green, and his par putt never came back from the right, leaving a tap-in bogey. 1-over thru 2 (1-over for the tournament).

Hole 1 - Par 4

Tiger begins his day just like yesterday with a great iron off the tee, far and down the middle of the fairway. His approach is safe, under 20 feet and right of the cup. Nothing much to see from there, easy two-putt par to begin the day. Even thru 1 (Even for the tournament).

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