Tiger Woods, who feels ‘strength’ to win U.S. Open, starts with birdie

Tiger Woods, a three-time U.S. Open champion, began his pursuit of a fourth title at the 2024 U.S. Open with a strong start on Thursday at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Despite playing a limited schedule due to ongoing injuries to his back, leg, and foot, Woods expressed confidence in his ability to contend for the title.

“I feel like I have the strength to be able to do it,” Woods said during his pre-tournament news conference on Tuesday. “It’s just a matter of doing it. This golf course is going to test every single aspect of your game, especially mentally. The mental discipline it takes to play this particular golf course is going to be significant. We’ve been working on that and making sure I understand the game plan.”

Woods, who teed off alongside Will Zalatoris and Matt Fitzpatrick at 7:29 a.m. EDT on hole No. 10, started his round with a 317-yard drive into the center of the fairway on the 619-yard, Par 5 hole. He followed up with a 257-yard approach shot that landed on the green, leaving him with a 12-foot birdie putt. Woods confidently sank the left-to-right putt, securing a birdie and joining Seamus Power and amateur Omar Morales in an early tie for the lead.

Following his birdie, Woods made pars on his next three holes, maintaining a steady performance at 1-under par through his first four holes. His careful play highlighted his disciplined approach and readiness to tackle the challenges posed by the renowned Pinehurst course.

Woods’ recent form has been mixed, with a 60th place finish at the 2024 Masters and missing the cut at the PGA Championship in May. His last tournament victory was at the 2019 Zozo Championship. Despite these setbacks, the 15-time major champion remains optimistic about his chances at the U.S. Open, a tournament he has won three times previously (2000, 2002, 2008).

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Woods to see if he can capitalize on his promising start and continue his quest for another major title.