Tiger Tames a Rough Day, Shoots Disappointing 79 at The Open

Tiger Woods’ quest for another historic Open Championship title got off to a rocky start Thursday at Royal Troon. The 15-time major champion battled windy conditions and uncharacteristic mistakes to card a disappointing eight-over-par 79 in the opening round.

Woods began the day with a glimmer of hope, sinking a birdie putt on the third hole. But that momentum quickly faded as he carded a mix of bogeys and a double bogey on the front nine, making the turn at four-over.

Things weren’t much smoother on the back nine. While a birdie on the 13th provided a temporary spark, two closing bogeys sealed his fate for a forgettable opening round.

“I didn’t do a whole lot of things right today,” Woods admitted after the round. “I made that putt on three, and then I think I had three three-putts. I didn’t hit my irons very close, and I didn’t give myself a whole lot of looks.”

This score puts Woods in a precarious position, tied for 140th in the 156-man field. He faces an uphill battle to make the cut for the weekend, a feat he hasn’t accomplished at The Open since 2018.

The challenging conditions at Royal Troon seemed to affect many players, but Woods’ struggles come after a season marred by inconsistency. This marks his fourth major appearance of 2024, and he’s only managed to make the cut once at the Masters.

Despite the rough start, Woods remains determined. With two more rounds to play, there’s still a chance for him to turn things around and potentially contend. But one thing’s for sure – it won’t be easy. Golf fans around the world will be watching closely to see if the iconic golfer can rise to the occasion and salvage his Open Championship hopes.

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