Tiger Woods Posts 71 at British Open

Posted Jul 16, 2009 9:05AM By Shane Bacon (RSS feed)

With Tiger Woods at the British Open, the start says a lot about how he finishes. In his three previous Open wins, Tiger has shot a combined 16-under par in first rounds, with rounds of 67-66-67. On Thursday at Turnberry, Woods went in the other direction, shooting a 1-over par 71 that, while not catastrophic, is far from the number he had in his mind.

Tiger's golf swing the last few weeks has looked as on plane as ever, but towards the end of the round on Thursday at the British Open, Woods couldn't get it back, including a missed second shot on the 16th that found the burn, and two very poor swings on the par-5 17th -- a hole most circle as the "must birdie" hole on the back. A bad read on his makeable birdie putt on the last hole led to a 1-over 71 and a current tie for 48th.

This is the second-straight major that Tiger had his first round in control by his standards (he normally takes Thursday the same way boxers take the first round ... slow and steady) until he reached the last few holes. At Bethpage Black, Tiger was even-par with four to go but played those finals holes 4-over on his way to a 74. Thursday at Turnberry, Tiger made a birdie at 11 to get to red figures at 1-under, but bogeys on 15 and 16, and a par at 17 that feels like a bogey wasn't exactly what he was looking for.

Woods mentioned earlier this week that he would avoid the driver for more positional play around Turnberry, and he held true by hitting only three the first day. Problem was, bad swings were produced by said driver, including the block right on 17.

Tiger would probably rate his round a C- by his standards, but not the same can be said for 17-year-old Ryo Ishikawa. For the first time in competition, Ryo was paired with Tiger, and bested the top golfer in the world by three shots on his way to a 2-under 68. Also playing with the group was English hopeful Lee Westwood, who matched Ishikawa's 68.

In his four previous Opens when Tiger has shot 71 or higher, his average finish at week's end was 15th.

Latest British Open Photos

Tom Watson of the U.S. acknowledges the crowd on the 17th green during the first round of the British Open Golf Championship at the Turnberry Golf Club in Scotland, July 16, 2009. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh (BRITAIN SPORT GOLF IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Reuters

Swedish golfer Fredrik Jacobson watches his drive on the 17th tee on the first day of the 138th British Open Championship at Turnberry Golf Course in south west Scotland, on July 16, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Adrian Dennis (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Francesco Molinari of Italy plays a shot from the rough on the 17th hole during the first round of the British Open Golf Championship at the Turnberry Golf Club in Scotland, July 16, 2009. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne (BRITAIN SPORT GOLF)

Reuters

US golfer Hunter Mahan watches his drive on the 15th tee on the first day of the 138th British Open Championship at Turnberry Golf Course in south west Scotland, on July 16, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Glyn Kirk (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

US golfer Anthony Kim stands on the 15th tee, on the first day of the 138th British Open Championship at Turnberry Golf Course in south west Scotland, on July 16, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Glyn Kirk (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

French golfer Thomas Levet putts on the 8th green with the island of Ailsa Craig in the background, on the first day of the 138th British Open Championship at Turnberry Golf Course in south west Scotland, on July 16, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Glyn Kirk (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

French golfer Thomas Levet lines up his putt on the 8th green with the island of Ailsa Craig in the background, on the first day of the 138th British Open Championship at Turnberry Golf Course in south west Scotland, on July 16, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Glyn Kirk (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Italian golfer Francesco Molinari plays out of the rough on the 17th hole on the first day of the 138th British Open Championship at Turnberry Golf Course in south west Scotland, on July 16, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Adrian Dennis (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-16-2009 @ 10:08AM

nickcherryl said...

Greatest news of the day, guess the fix isn't in for this one.

7-16-2009 @ 11:06AM

quartersone said...

Tiger having problems? AWWWWWWWWWW too bad. Couldn,t happen to a nicer JERK..

7-16-2009 @ 11:25AM

Vic said...

Why would you say Tiger's a jerk. He single handily brought golf to the forefront when started playing. Every tournament he enters brings out much higher ratings than when he doesn't play. He has given millions so that children can learn to play at a young age. He is a class guy and if you love golf you are blessed to see the greatest golfer ever.

7-16-2009 @ 2:08PM

Paskulo said...

Bobby Jones is the greatest golfer of all times.

7-16-2009 @ 11:52AM

elpgolfer said...

so it didn't take long for the tiger haters to come out with their BS. they don't like it when he plays well and they don't like it when he gets attention when he plays poorly. sad and pathetic that they have to come on here and give us their stupid opinions. and they call him a jerk. i bet they wouldn't have the nuts to say it to his face...

7-16-2009 @ 12:38PM

carleen kerstetter said...

IN MY ENTIRE LIFE, AND I AM A SENIOR PLUS, HAVE I EVER HEARD SO DARN MANY IDIOTS MAKING SLAMS AGAINST A FANTASTIC ATHLETE. YOU ARE JEALOUSE AND PREJUDICED. THE MAN HAS STARTED SCHOOLS FOR THE UNDER PRIVELEDGED IN MANY PLACES TO ASSIST THE KIDS ACHEIVE GREATER HEIGHTS IN THEIR LIVES. THE TUITION, INCIDENTLY, IS FREE. NOT JUST FOR BLACKS BUT FOR ALL RACES AND CREEDS HOW ABOUT SOME OF YOU JERKS CONTRIBUTING TO THE FUND. HEY YOU JERKS WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE. GET SOME MATURITY. IT IS APPARANT YOU ARE EITHER UNEDUCATED OF JUVENILES OUT OF SCHOOL ON VACATION

7-16-2009 @ 12:34PM

carleenevelyn said...

HEY YOU KIDS YOU SHOULD BE IN SUMMER SCHOOL DUMB DUMB. THE MAN IS NOT ONLY A GREAT ATHLETEL BUT HE HAS SHARED HIS WINNINGS WITH UNDERPRIVILEDGED CHILDREN OF ALL RACES AT LEARNING CENTERS HE, HIMSELF , HAS PAID FOR. PERHAPS YOU SHOULD GET YOUR PARENTS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUND AND SEND YOU THERE. YOU SURE SHOULD HAVE SOME GUIDANCE. SEEMS YOUR ADULT??? PARENTS HAVEN'T DONE THEIR JOB

fvpincb said...

Tiger is not a Jerk, but golfing every month and a half doesn't do it. If I golfed every two months I'd be shooting awful golf. There are some hungry golfers out there who are golfing every week, these are the Golfers who are going to be Champions. I see the end of Tiger...

Indian Fran.

7-16-2009 @ 1:41PM

fvpincb, i assume you no nothing about the preparation that goes into playing in competetive golf. there are players (called grinders) who play 30 or more tournaments a year and don't win. then there are the elite players who practice more than they play. tiger has won 3 times this year and been in the top 10 all the other tourneys he has played. he is leading in the fedex cup points, the money leader and played in only 9 events. has probably made more money this year than you will amass in your lifetime. and this is the end of tiger? not hardly

Tiger Woods dominates when he plays venues that have par 72, because all the par-5 holes to Tiger are really par-4 holes. Tiger benefits from modern technology. But when playing on par 70 venues, like Turnberry, Tiger is just another average pro.

7-16-2009 @ 2:07PM

Tiger Woods is not black.