Tiger Woods Faces Major Setback at The Open Championship: Struggles to 8-Over 79 at Royal Troon

Tiger Woods at Royal Troon
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Tiger Woods had a difficult start at the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon, ending his first round with an 8-over 79. He began well, but his performance quickly went downhill, placing him far from making the cut.

He started with two pars and a birdie on the third hole, giving hope for a strong round. Things went wrong soon after.

In the next five holes, he bogeyed four times and double bogeyed the par-3 fifth hole after trouble in a bunker. His struggles continued throughout the round, especially with his approach shots and putting, losing more than two strokes to the field in both areas.

At 48 years old, Woods faced additional challenges due to cold weather and long waits. A significant delay happened at the par-4 11th hole, where a 15-minute wait broke his rhythm.

His tee shot landed in a bush, leading to an unplayable lie and a double bogey. Throughout the round, Woods was seen stretching his back, showing he was in discomfort.

He managed to stabilize towards the end, playing 1 over in the last six holes.

Reflecting on his day, Woods said, “I didn’t do a lot of things right today. I didn’t hit my irons very close, and I didn’t give myself many chances. I need to shoot something in the mid-60s tomorrow to get back on track for the weekend.”

This year has been tough for Woods, who missed the cut at the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. He made the cut at the Masters but finished last among those who did.

His struggles have led to talks about his future in golf, with former world No. 2 Colin Montgomerie suggesting that Woods should retire. However, Woods is determined to keep playing, emphasizing his right to compete as a past Open champion.

As Woods prepares for the second round, he needs a significant improvement to make the cut and continue in the tournament. He remains determined and hopeful, saying, “Hopefully next year will be better than this year.”