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

Adam Woodard USA TODAY

Published 2:34 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.

Final thoughts

Good, not great round for Tiger. He drew the short straw with his tee times and weather combination, but all things considered he's not in bad shape. The biggest struggle today was once again his tee shots. Unable to play conservative with the weather, he got in trouble with his driver, but was able to scramble and minimize the damage. The missed birdie on 18 is a huge blow, but even heading into the weekend isn't terrible (just ask Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas who will be watching from their couches).

Tiger has some serious work to do this weekend, but if the weather is fair and he can play like he did on yesterday's front nine, get ready for some Tiger roars this weekend at Carnoustie.

Hole 18 - Par 4

A final iron off the tee here for Tiger and this one is crushed down the right side of the fairway and gets a good run towards the middle. This one was pretty. Tiger's approach avoids the bunker, lands safely on the green and runs towards the cup within 10 feet. This putt moved left-to-right but hits the edge of the cup and fails to fall. He'll tap in for par and card another even-par 71 (Even for the tournament).

Hole 17 - Par 4

Tiger keeps this iron nice and low and finds the left side of the fairway. He finds the green with his approach, around 30-feet out and pin-high. Tiger gave this one a good run by winds up a few feet past the hole. Par. Even thru 17 (Even for the tournament).

Hole 16 - Par 3

The last three holes at Carnoustie are far from easy, and Tiger did well yesterday to play them even to end even. If he can do the same today and walk off 18 in the red, he'll be in great shape for some weekend magic.

Tiger didn't help himself here, by losing his iron off the tee into the front right greenside bunker. He does well to get up and out, but the ball checked up before the cup and failed to get any closer than around 15 feet. His putt finishes right of the hole, leaving an unfortunate tap-in bogey. Even thru 16 (Even for the tournament).

Hole 15 - Par 4

TW's feeling it off the tee now. That's another perfect iron off the tee and in the fairway. From 222 yards out, with the wind at his back, Tiger floats a 7-iron onto the middle of the green. Tiger's putt from around 20 feet was left the entire way, missing the cup but leaving a tap-in par. 1-under thru 15 (1-under for the tournament).

Hole 14 - Par 5

Tiger blasts an iron down the fairway off the tee, leaving 235 yards to get to the green in two. He pulls 5-iron for his approach and the ball rolls onto the front of the green, near the front pin. He's got a great chance for eagle, and at worst birdie here. Tiger took his time looking at this one, but he leaves it a little short and right. That's a tap-in birdie for Tiger, who gets back to 1-under par thru 14 (1-under for the tournament).

For the first time this week, Tiger took advantage of his length off the tee and scored on a par 5. if he has any chance this weekend, he'll need to do more of the same.

Hole 13 - Par 3

"Tiger, no." Not good. Could've been worse, though, as Tiger's tee shot comes up short of the bunker. He's got a pitch with not a lot of green to work with, and his approach onto the green runs past the cup. With 18-feet and a little left-to-right break, Tiger lets out a strong fist-pump after burying the putt. That's a great par save for the Big Cat. Even thru 13 (Even for the tournament).

Hole 12 - Par 4

Tiger stripes another iron down the middle of the fairway off the tee. Tiger takes a 3-iron here and blasts it onto the front part of the green on the right. He's got well over 50-feet left, and he two putts for par. Even thru 12 (Even for the tournament).

Hole 11 - Par 4

Iron off the tee here from Tiger, and it's solid in the fairway. His 8-iron approach safely finds the green within 20-feet for another lengthier look at birdie. Another long birdie putt drops for TW! He's back to even thru 11 (Even for the tournament).

Hole 10 - Par 4

Another miss with driver for Tiger, ending in the thick rough to the right. He does well with his approach, getting it on to the green from the rough but well away from the cup. His putt rides a slope towards the cup with massive break and comes up a few inches short of dropping. Great ride there from TW, but it's another par. 1-over thru 10 (1-over for the tournament).

Leaderboard update: Tommy Fleetwood fired a 6-under 65 on Friday to take an early share of the lead before Kevin Kisner teed off, but here comes ZJ, as well! Zach Johnson's 4-under 67 on Friday morning gives him the outright lead at 6-under in the clubhouse.

Thoughts at the turn

Tiger's strategy yesterday was simple: irons off the tee, avoid trouble, fire at pins when possible. With the winds and rain today, that strategy turned to just avoid mistakes by any means necessary. Tiger was 2-under thru 4 yesterday, but was 2-over thru 4 today. He's missed with driver (and an iron) off the tee a few times and was forced to scramble early after a few missteps with bogeys on No. 2 and 3. Then he seemed to find his rhythm a bit before dropping another stroke on No. 9. It's all about making the cut and then making a move on Saturday, which is something we've seen Tiger do a few times already this season. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if the elements continue to win the day.

Hole 9 - Par 4

Stinger time! Tiger's iron off the tee flies low and long down the right side of the fairway. Not too shabby. He loses his approach to the right, short of the green in the fairway. His chip rolls within 10-feet, but misses the par save. Tough bogey to drop back to 1-over on the day (1-over for the tournament).

Hole 8 - Par 3

Tiger cuts this one through the wind and navigates the green perfectly. The pin is guarded by bunkers and tucked away towards the back of the green, and Tiger's ball lands safely left the cup for another birdie chance. His birdie putt was close but just misses the cup by a few inches, leaving another tap-in par. Not bad, but definitely a missed opportunity after a great tee shot to gain some momentum before heading to the back. Even thru 8 (Even for the tournament).

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).

Let's block ads! (Why?)