*Tiger Woods may be in the process of hitting rock bottom on the golf course.
He’s been struggling lately (he shot an 85 about two weeks ago) but the man hit a new low on Thursday at the 115th U.S. Open.
On one hole, he hit three consecutive shots into the sand. On another hole, he missed a 4-foot putt for double bogey because he tapped the ball so softly it barely reached the cup. On yet another hole, Woods chunked a pitch in the high rough and then released the club so that it helicoptered behind him.
On his final hole, he came within a centimeter or two of missing the ball entirely.
Woods’s first-round score was an unthinkable 10-over-par 80. But it was his inability to execute basic golf fundamentals that made his performance so jarring.
Tiger Woods of the United States looks on from the 11th tee during the second round of the 115th U.S. Open Championship at Chambers Bay on June 19, 2015 in University Place, Washington
Just two months ago, Woods tied for 17th at the Masters and had two rounds in the 60s. A little more than a year ago, he was the world’s top-ranked golfer.
In Thursday’s first round, Woods had a lower score than just two players, one of them a club pro playing in his first United States Open. Woods was tied for 152nd in the tournament.
Late Thursday, Tom Weiskopf of Fox Sports said what many were thinking: “It is hard to watch.”
It was also surreal. Woods, whose on-the-course countenance had once been so determined and dour, stood behind the 17th green on Thursday laughing and smiling with his playing partner Louis Oosthuizen.
Woods put his arm around Oosthuizen and giggled, using his hat to try to hide the snickers.
Fifteen years ago to the day, Woods was winning the United States Open by 15 strokes. At one point Thursday, he was trailing the leaders by 15 strokes.
After his light moment at the edge of the 17th green, Woods split the fairway with his tee shot and then hit the most astonishing shot of the day. With a perfect lie, Woods topped his second shot with a 3-wood, dribbling a ground ball through a bunker. The ball then scooted into another bunker.
At that moment, the crowd at Chambers Bay Golf Course was laughing at Tiger Woods on the 18th hole of America’s national golf championship.
About 10 minutes after his round was over, Woods did not appear wounded. He even offered a joke.
“The bright side is at least I kicked Rickie’s butt today,” Woods said, referring to his playing partner Rickie Fowler, who shot a startling 81.
Otherwise, as he met with reporters, Woods was generally upbeat, as he usually is now — another juxtaposition to years of stern-faced news conference appearances.
“It was a tough day,” he said. “Got off to a bad start and just couldn’t quite get it turned around. It’s one of those things that I’ve just got to work through.
“I’m trying as hard as I can to do it, and for some reason I just can’t get the consistency that I’d like to have out there.”
Needless to say, Woods’ +10 is now his career worst U.S. Open score. At press time Friday, he was +3 through 15 holes in the second round, +13 overall (151st place).
View lowlights of Thursday’s first round by clicking the link in the player to watch on YouTube:
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