Friday, June 15, 2001
Tracking Tiger: First round
obstacles
By JOHN LINDSAY
Scripps Howard News Service
TULSA, Okla. — Tracking Tiger Woods
Thursday at the rain-shortened first round of the 101st U.S. Open
Championship at Southern Hills Country Club:
SCORE: When play was suspended after a 101-minute
weather delay late in the afternoon, Woods was at 3-over par,
facing a two-foot putt for par on the 10th hole. Tiger stands
six shots behind leader Hale Irwin, who shot a 3-under 67, and
South Africa's Retief Goosen, who is also at 3-under after seven
holes. Woods is among 90 players who will try to finish their
first rounds early Friday morning before going on to the second
round later in the day.
SHOT OF THE DAY: Tiger didn't do much, but
did show fine touch on a tough chip from deep rough behind the
green on the 225-yard par-3 eighth hole. The shot stopped 18 inches
from the hole allowing Tiger to save par after his 4-iron tee
shot rolled through the green.
WHOOPS!: In a miscue that would make weekend
hackers proud, Tiger shanked a sand wedge approach from 84 yards
on the relatively benign 374-yard par-4 ninth. The ball bounced
off a tree and embedded in a bunker where Woods could do little
more than blast out over the green, winding up with a mystifying
double bogey six.
Earlier it was his putter. Doing what he
never did in 72 holes last year at Pebble Beach, Tiger three-putted
from 40 feet for a bogey on the third hole, missing a tricky nine-footer
for par.
HOW DID HE DO THAT?: On the third hole,
Woods broke out his unique “stinger” shot. Using a 2-iron
off the tee on the 467-yard par-4, Tiger put the ball back in
his stance and pounded a low missile that never got more than
40 feet off the ground. Yet the ball traveled nearly 260 yards.
But Woods then missed the green with his approach and settled
for par.
LOOK OUT FOR: Rain, thunder, lightning and
lots of guys above him. Tiger is in a tie for 76th at 3-over and
is looking up at 75 players above him, including 19 who finished
their first rounds. On the bright side, Woods can recall the 1997
Masters when he shot a 4-over 40 on the front nine of the first
round, but rebounded to roll to a record-setting 12-shot victory
with a final total of 18-under 270.
ON THE COURSE: Pity poor Jeff Quinney. As
is Open tradition, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion Quinney
was paired with the defending champ Woods. The experience was
obviously overwhelming for the Eugene, Ore. native as he suffered
a pair of double-bogeys in the first four holes. He staggered
to finish the front nine with a 10-over 45.
GRADE: C-. The rain delay might be the best
thing for Tiger as he appeared miffed at the slow play and his
own mistakes prior to the thunderstorms. But he must do something
early Friday to get things righted. Sure, Woods has won with his
C- game before, but it won't do it this week against this good
of a field on this hard of a course.
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