Tiger Woods Round 2: Can the Golf Legend Rally at the U.S. Open?

Tiger Woods, the iconic golfer who has captivated audiences for decades, commenced his U.S. Open journey with a flourish on Thursday. Starting with a birdie, Woods vaulted himself into the red, rekindling memories of his youthful dominance at Pinehurst No. 2, where he first showcased his prodigious talent 25 years ago.

However, the ensuing 17 holes offered a stark juxtaposition between the Tiger of yesteryears and the seasoned veteran of today. Woods demonstrated exceptional prowess with his driver, expertly navigating the narrow fairways bordered by native grasses. His ability to sink a few long putts to save pars was reminiscent of his prime. Yet, the demanding layout of the course exposed vulnerabilities in his game, particularly with his iron shots. Inaccuracies plagued him on a course that demands precision, and his usually deft touch around the greens faltered multiple times, culminating in a 4-over 74 for the opening round.

This round marked his 12th consecutive major round without breaking par, marred by five bogeys over a seven-hole stretch. “I was somewhat conservative in some of my end points. Then again, I didn’t hit the ball very well either," Woods reflected. His statistics were a testament to his mixed performance: finding 12 of 14 fairways in regulation but hitting only half the greens. Several shots that seemed destined for birdie opportunities instead found the treacherous collection areas off the greens, including a notable incident at the par-3 ninth hole. Woods’ approach shot, initially appearing secure, rolled agonizingly off the green, transforming a birdie opportunity into a challenging pitch-and-putt par save.

“It’s hard to get the ball close," Woods admitted. “On most courses, you can use slopes to your advantage, but here, everything repels. It’s tough to keep the ball on the shelves." Despite the struggles, Woods avoided major mishaps and remained within reach of making the cut, a marked improvement from his performance at the PGA Championship at Valhalla, where triple bogeys in the second round led to a missed weekend.

Encouragingly, Woods’ oft-betraying body held up well under the strain. Absent were the grimaces that have become a familiar sight in recent years. The relatively flat terrain of Pinehurst, especially compared to Augusta National, along with the warm, humid weather, played to his favor, keeping his joints from seizing up.

With an early tee time on Thursday, Woods now enjoys nearly 24 hours of recovery before his second-round tee-off at 1:14 pm on Friday. The golf world watches with bated breath, eager to see if the legendary Woods can once again summon the magic that has defined his career.

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