Tiger Woods made a desolate start on his return to the most traditional golf tournament in the world and is already facing an early end. The golf superstar played a round of 78 at the start of the 150th British Open on the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland.
He was one of the weakest of the 156 starters and is already 14 strokes behind the leading American Cameron Young, who is taking part in the British Open for the first time.
Woods, who celebrated his sensational comeback after a serious car accident at the US Masters in April, played three birdies on Thursday. However, upon returning to his declared “favourite golf course,” he also suffered double bogeys on the first and seventh holes, plus five bogeys. “Looks like I’ll have to hit 66 shots tomorrow to have a chance at the weekend,” said a dismayed Woods.
Two shots behind debutant Young, meanwhile, is Rory McIlroy in second with a round of 66. The four-time Major winner from Northern Ireland is considered one of the top favorites at St Andrews. Between the fifth and seventh holes, McIlroy made three consecutive birdies, and his only bogey was on the 13th hole.
“I’ve played this golf course well in recent years, so I knew something like this was possible,” said number two in the world rankings: “Tomorrow I have to go out and repeat what I did today.”
Co-favorite Scottie Scheffler, world number one and Masters winner in 2022, is tied for fourth place with four under par. Defending champion Collin Morikawa played a round of 72 to end day one in a tied 55th place – including level with rogue LIV pro Phil Mickelson. The Spaniard Jon Rahm, also traded as a favourite, meanwhile started with a round of 73.
No professional from Germany has qualified for the only major tournament outside of the United States.