Maybe Colin Montgomerie was right.
Tiger Woods showed some old-school form early on at Royal Troon, sinking a putt from off the green on the third hole to move to one under par.
But his round quickly fell apart from there.
Woods bogeyed four of the next five holes, then hit his ball into some bushes to the right of the fairway for a double bogey on the 11th hole.
Woods bogeyed the 12th hole again before birdieing the 13th.
The 48-year-old Woods was six-over par with three holes to go.
Woods isn’t the only one. Many of the world’s best golfers, including Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau, have struggled with the nasty crosswinds around Troon.
The legendary golfer will need to have an impressive rally at the end of the first round and again in the second round on Friday to make the cut.
The 15-time major winner just missed the cut at the U.S. Open and PGA Championship earlier this year.
Woods qualified for the Masters but finished last among all golfers who made the cut.
The British Open may be Tiger’s final tournament of the year.
“I only have one more tournament left this season. Even if I win the British Open, [FedExCup] “It’s a playoff,” Tiger told reporters after the U.S. Open.
Woods has just one top 10 finish since his historic 2019 Masters victory.
Earlier this week, former world No. 2 golfer Montgomerie called on Woods to retire.
“I hope people remember Tiger as having the passion and charisma he once had,” Montgomery told The Times of London. “It’s not there anymore. At Pinehurst, [for the U.S. Open last month] He never seems to enjoy a shot and you think, ‘What on earth is he doing?’ He’s coming to Troon and he’s not going to enjoy it there either.”
Woods quickly retorted, “Well, in the past, [Open] Champion, I am exempt until I am 60 [and] Colin’s not like that.”
There was controversy on Thursday when an announcer during Woods’ round claimed the player was using “large amounts of painkillers” to deal with pain.
