June 19--Tiger Woods will get his chance to take on the links-like course at Chambers Bay later this afternoon when he begins his first round of the the 115th U.S. Open Championship at 2:28 p.m.
Woods' group, which includes Rickie Fowler and Louis Oosthuizen, will be one of the last of the day just behind Masters champion Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Justin Rose.
The 14-time major winner has won the U.S. Open three times, but on Wednesday night before the championship, Woods was out getting some last minute practice. After all, his last major win came in 2008 -- his last top-10 finish in 2013.
Woods' game came apart last week at Memorial, where he shot a career-worst, 13-over-par 85 during the third round. He finished last overall at the tournament, which has inspired oddsmakers to give him a 50-1 chance of winning U.S. Open.
The former No. 1 golfer in the world -- currently ranked 195th -- took a two month layoff from the sport to improve his game after withdrawing from Torrey Pines because of an injury.
He returned for the Masters at Augusta National, where his game appeared to be heading in the right direction as he finished the tournament tied for 17th despite the absence of competitive play. At The Players Championship Woods was never really in contention as he finished tied for 69th before his meltdown at Memorial.
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Hole 11, Shadows: Par 4, 541 yards
Woods sends his tee shot through the fairway.
Hole 10, High Dunes: Par 4, 427 yards -- Result: Par -- Score: +4 (T116)
The drive goes right, but he's made three consecutive pars. Chambers Bay is still winning. Woods goes right again and he's in the bunker, again, right of the hole. He gets it out to a round of applause from the patrons near the hole and closes the deal. Four consecutive pars.
Hole 9, Olympus: Par 3, 203 yards -- Result: Par -- Score: +4 (T114)
The tee shot ends up on the front part of the green less than 10 yards from the hole on the second shortest hole of the day. He plays it safe and puts himself in position for another par putt. The whole group has struggled thus far with Rickie Fowler 8 over and Louis Oosthuizen also at 4 over.
Hole 8, High Road / Low Road: Par 5, 602 yards -- Result: Par -- Score: +4 (T113)
Woods slams his driver on the ground. He's deep in the tall fescue on a hill off the fairway to the right side. Woods jams the ground on his next shot, losing his club hitting off the hill and to make matters worse he's not on the other side of the course in the grass again. Woods recovers and gets a long attempt at birdie but the ball runs over the lip of the cup. Par is a victory here.
Hole 7, Humpback: Par 4, 515 yards -- Result: Par -- Score: +4 (T120)
Hole No. 7 has been one of the more difficult for players but Woods starts off good by hitting the fairway, down about 143 yards from the hole. Woods sets himself up for birdie again with a medium putt, but we've been here before. Woods gets away with a two-putt par after coming up just short for birdie.
Hole 6, Deception Point: Par 4, 494 yards -- Result: Bogey -- Score: +4 (T122)
Another big drive satisfies Woods, who makes his way down the course with a bit more pep in his step after opening the day with back-to-back bogeys. He still missed the fairway to the right. Woods pops the ball up onto the green and he's looking at another real opportunity for birdie. No good. A short putt for par becomes another bogey.
Hole 5, Free Fall: Par 4, 503 yards -- Result: Par -- Score: +3 (T112)
Woods doesn't look happy about anything right now, but his tee shot hits the fairway. He's looking at an approach shot from about 199 yards out. His next shot goes left of the hole but he's not alone. Rickie Fowler joins him in the same spot about 25 yards from the hole. Woods' long putt rolls over the edge of the hole but gives him a chance to save par with a two-footer.
Hole 4, Hazard's Ascent: Par 4, 475 yards -- Result: Bogey -- Score: +3 (T113)
A big drive gets him close, but again he's deep in bunker territory to the right side bunker about 129 yards from the hole. Woods can use the backboard here to roll it back as long as he can get it up and over. He plays it safe, leaves the ball left of the hole off of the green, not that you can tell because of the grass. The long putt breaks just left of the hole then the short follow for par runs out of gas. Bogey.
Hole 3, Blown Out: Par 3, 165 yards -- Result: Par -- Score: +2 (T89)
Alright. Woods doesn't miss the fairway or the green. He's about six-yards from the hole and looking to get back one of those bogeys. Par is an improvement, but it takes two.
Hole 2, Foxy: Par 4, 387 yards -- Result: Bogey -- Score: +2 (T80)
Missed fairway. Woods doesn't end up in the tall grass, but he's off the right side of the fairway in the rough. It's not going to be an easy day for Woods. His second shot lands in the bunker about 35 yards from the hole. He gets up and he's got a chance to save par with a six-yard putt. He likes it all the way until the ball takes a slight turn at the hole. He bends his knees and looks down. Another bogey on the card.
Hole 1, Puget Sound: Par 4, 496 yards -- Result: Bogey -- Score: +1 (T64)
Tiger Woods open's the U.S. Open with a big drive down about 292 yards the middle of the fairway. No. 1 today has surrendered just seven birdies. Woods' second shot finds some deep fescue grass on an incline to the right of the hole. Woods chokes up on the club and puts himself in position for a putt for par. He comes up short. Bogey.
