Tiger Woods endured a tough opening round at the Open Championship at Royal Troon, carding an eight-over-par 79 on Thursday. The 15-time major winner briefly turned back the clock with a long birdie putt at the third hole, but his performance quickly unraveled, featuring six bogeys and two double bogeys.
The 48-year-old, who has faced significant physical challenges since a serious car accident three years ago, struggled on the Ayrshire links, with his play also drawing attention from TV commentator Mark Roe. Roe, a former European Tour professional, made a controversial remark during the R&A’s international TV feed, speculating that Woods might be relying on painkillers to cope with the physical strain. “You look at the eyes, you’ve got to think there’s a lot of painkillers being taken to cope with the pain. It’s not easy,” Roe commented.
Woods, who has undergone numerous back and knee surgeries and now plays a limited schedule, was not asked directly about Roe’s comments, but his well-documented health issues and struggles with pain management have been discussed in the past. At the 2023 Masters, Woods admitted to experiencing “constant” pain in his right leg, and he has previously sought professional help to address medication-related issues.
Speaking more generally after his round at Troon, Woods reflected on his physical condition, saying, “I’m physically feeling a lot better than I did at the beginning of the year. At the end of last year, it was tough, and I haven’t played a whole lot.” He added that while he wished he could have played more, he’s been reserving his efforts for major tournaments, hoping to make a significant impact.
Despite his disappointing first round, the three-time Open champion remained optimistic about his chances of making the cut. “I didn’t do a whole lot of things right today,” he admitted, “but I need to shoot something in the mid-60s tomorrow to get something going for the weekend.”
The PA news agency has since reported that the R&A has addressed Roe’s comments with him directly.