Marv Levy, the former coach of the Buffalo Bills, used to motivate his teams with the famous line: “When it’s too tough for them, it’s just right for us.”
Tiger Woods will draw on that philosophy as he faces a cool and breezy Thursday at The 152nd Open Championship.
Woods tees off for his opening round at 2:37 p.m. local time at Royal Troon (9:37 a.m. ET), aiming to decipher the challenges posed by the Scottish seaside course that have troubled players in the early stages of the season’s final men’s major championship.
Justin Thomas seized an early advantage by shooting a solid 3-under 68, while several others, including Alex Noren, Justin Rose, and Nicolai Højgaard, ended their rounds at 2-under 69. Conversely, Rory McIlroy, Max Homa, and Bryson DeChambeau struggled, posting scores well above par.
This year marks Tiger Woods’ return to competing in all four majors since recovering from severe leg injuries sustained in a 2021 car accident. He made the cut at the Masters but fell short at both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open.
Despite acknowledging his physical challenges, Woods remains hopeful about his ability to contend for major titles, especially in favorable conditions. With Royal Troon proving to be a tough test early in the tournament, this event holds significant importance.
Stay updated as Woods faces the challenges of Royal Troon during the opening round of The 152nd Open Championship.
At 10:10 a.m. ET, Woods hits his tee shot into dense rough left of the fairway on the short par-4 second hole. However, he executes a superb second shot from 177 yards away, barely clearing a bunker at the front of the green, and settles safely 60 feet left of the hole. He completes the hole with two putts to secure his second consecutive par at the beginning of the first round at Royal Troon.
At 9:51 a.m. ET, Tiger Woods begins his round at The 152nd Open, dressed in a black cap, grey sweater, and black neck warmer branded with Sun Day Red. He opts for a fairway metal club for his tee shot on the par-4 first hole and lands in the first cut of rough just off the right side of the fairway, with 166 yards remaining to the hole. He intelligently plays an iron shot to the front part of the green and two-putts to start with a par, making a solid beginning on this challenging Thursday at Royal Troon.