Tiger Woods started off the first round of the British Open with a few tough holes, but after getting things together on the back nine, the former champion pulled out a 69 and on Friday he did just as well, shooting an even round to put himself squarely in contention for the championship at second on the leaderboard as Saturday play started, tied with a number of players in striking distance of the top spot.
Woods shot a 71 on the day on Friday and handled some tough wind conditions on the Muirfield course and now sits at two under for the tournament, coming into the day just behind Miguel Jiminez and tied with Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and Dustin Johnson. Woods is heading into the tournament without having won a major in his last 20 tries and the last time he took one of the championships was back in 2008 in a playoff when he won the US Open at Torrey Pines on basically one knee.
Woods is working on trying to beat Jack Nicklaus's record of 18, but as each major passes by and another golfer wins, he is getting further and further away from that chance. Woods had a good shot at winning the Masters this past April, as he was playing very well and looking strong heading into the weekend, but one fateful shot off the flag and into the water changed everything.
Woods ended up taking a drop and that drop might as well have been the drop heard round the world, as he was given a penalty the next day and finished in the top five. Woods hasn't won the Open Championship since 2006 and the last time it was at Muirfield in 2002, he put up the worst score of his career with an 81. So far the weather at the course has been cooperating, unlike the US Open and after injuring his elbow at that tournament, Woods says that he is good to go and is fully healthy now. Woods was seen practicing early this week and he had his girlfriend Lindsey Vonn in tow with him and that could give him some good luck as he tries to win the major.
Check here for live radio coverage of the British Open from Scotland at Muirfield Golf Links with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy.
Vonn was at Augusta in April and she has accompanied Woods to a number of tournaments this year and now he will have the chance to get back on track at Muirfield. Woods has won more times than anyone else on tour this year after taking four tournament wins and despite playing badly at the US Open, he looked solid and fluid in practice during the week for the Open Championship and this could be the time he finally snaps that major streak. Rory McIlroy will be looking for a rebound as well after his tough year and he will start off the tournament by playing with Phil Mickelson in the first two rounds.
Woods needs to improve his play during the weekend of major tournaments, as he has been 21-over in rounds three and four in his past six majors while going six under during the first two rounds. Ernie Els comes into the tournament as a sort of double defending champion, as he won the Open Championship last year and he also took it when it was last in Muirfield. Mickelson will need to fight some history as well, as he has only two top 10 finishes in his career in 19 tries at the Open Championship. McIlroy si looking to get back into the swing of things since winning the 2011 U.S. Open and 2012 PGA Championship and he would like to finally get his season back on track.
