Woods reacts to a missed putt at the eighth

The world number one hit only five of 14 fairways on his way to a two-over 72 in the first round of the US Open.

"It was tough," said the 28-year-old Woods. "But there is still an awfully long way to go yet."

His troubles, however, were nothing compared to David Duval's. The man Woods replaced as number one collapsed to a 13-over-par 83 and last place.

The 32-year-old American only decided to take up his place in the Shinnecock Hills field on Saturday after sitting out the last seven months of competitive golf.

If I'd shot in the mid-70s it would have been a really good day - it would have been a good day if I'd broken 80 David Duval Quotes of the day

And for a brief moment it looked as though Duval, now ranked 437th in the world, was about to return in spectacular style when he birdied the first.

But it all started to unravel for the 2001 Open champion when he found the rough with his drive at the 435-yard fourth. A penalty drop ensued and three putts later he was back to one over.

Another pulled drive at the fifth brought a second double bogey, and a bogey at the sixth made it five shots gone in three holes.

The inward nine was even worse as Duval carded seven bogeys, one double and a birdie.

"If I'd shot in the mid-70s it would have been a really good day. It would have been a good day if I'd broken 80," said Duval, who was cheered by the Long Island crowd.

I drove it all right - I hit some good shots that just didn't end up in the fairway Tiger Woods

"There's some kinks to work out and some rust to get rid of," he said. "But at least I did a lot of things I wanted to do today. And most importantly, I enjoyed being out there.

"All in all, I would call it an enormous victory for me today."

Woods' round was undermined by his inability to keep his ball on the fairway and out of bunkers.

"Our whole group got some really funky bounces," he said. "It's playing on a links course with a lot of hills where the greens are this fast.

"I drove it all right. I hit some good shots that just didn't end up in the fairway.

"I was extremely patient. I know how to plays US Opens. I've been down this road before," he added.

"You are going to get frustrated. But you have to stay in the moment, focus on the next shot and stay in your game."