Tiger Woods kept himself in contention with a battling level-par 70 in round one of the US Open at Pinehurst. The nine-time major champion struggled off the tee and missed 8 of 14 fairways but scrambled well, dropping just two shots in a front nine 36.
"I need to drive the ball better," Woods said. "I need to be flatter with it and position my irons better. Most of my putts today were defensive.
"Any time you shoot even par or better at a US Open, you'll feel pretty good."
The two-time US Open winner was playing with England's Luke Donald (69) and fellow American Chris DiMarco (71), whom he beat in a play-off for a fourth Masters title in April.
Woods added: "Overall, this golf course is playing very difficult.
"The wind kept swirling out there and on a lot of these greens you have to play well away from the pin locations."
MMIX
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