Golf-Open-Sloppy finish leaves sour taste in Tiger’s mouth (Reuters)
June 19, 2009
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
FARMINGDALE, New York, June 19 (Reuters) – Frustrated afterdropping four shots in his last four holes at theweather-delayed U.S. Open on Friday, Tiger Woods was mightilyrelieved he was done for the day.
“The way I feel I don’t want to go back out there rightnow,” the triple champion told reporters after carding afour-over-par 74 in the opening round.
“Probably (I) would be a few clubs light,” the world numberone added, suggesting he was tempted to bend a few of them infrustration.
With only 3-1/4 hours of golf possible because of heavydownpours at Bethpage Black the previous day, half the field of156 were scheduled to start both the first and second rounds onFriday.
Woods, among the early wave of players on Thursday, waslikely to set off for round two at some point on Saturday whenrain has again been forecast.
A heavy favourite this week in pursuit of his 15th majortitle, Woods returned to the soggy course on Friday morning with11 holes remaining.
Although he missed an eight-foot par putt on the seventhgreen, he birdied 11 and 14 to get back to even par.
LATE STUMBLE
However the 33-year-old American stumbled over the closingstretch, double-bogeying 15 and dropping further shots on 16 andat the last to lie five strokes off the early lead.
“I wasn’t playing poorly,” Woods said. “I was even par withfour holes to go and I was right there where I needed to be.
“Two bad shots and a mud ball later, here we go and I’m atfour over.
“Hopefully I can clean up the round a little bit, maybetomorrow, drive the ball in the fairway and get a couple ofbreaks. Overall the golf course is playing difficult.”
Woods, who won last year’s U.S. Open in a 19-hole playoffwith compatriot Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines, felt the latestarters in the opening round were probably at a disadvantage.
“I think the guys who are playing today and tomorrow morningare going to get more mud balls,” he said. “It’s only going toget worse (as it dries out), unless we get more rain.”
Despite the poor weather, organisers have refused to permitplayers to lift, clean and place their golf balls if they getmuddy after landing in drenched fairways.
Asked if he would have preferred that practice to beemployed this week, as it is in other tournamnts around theworld, Woods replied: “It’s already too late. They may now forthe second round but who knows.
“It’s pot luck. You hit good shots and you go play it fromthere. Whether we play ball in hand or ball down, everyone hasto play the same conditions.”
(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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