Tour News

Breaking down Tiger Woods’ opening 69

Published

12 years ago

Jul 17, 2014

If you joined your intrepid journalist in waking up to catch Tiger Woods’ opening tee shot at 4:10 a.m. ET, you likely felt OK about his effort, which found the left side of the fairway.

“OK He looks good. Irons off the tee. That strategy should work again, even at a greener and softer Hoylake,” you were likely thinking.

Then, before you could brew your coffee, Woods promptly bogeyed the No. 1 after finding a pot bunker with his approach shot and three-wacked his way to another bogey at No. 2.

“Tiger Woods: two over through two holes,” the scoreboard read.

Suddenly, merely making the cut looked like it would be a tall task.

“Is he too rusty to even compete?” you were likely asking yourself.

A duffed effort from behind the green at No. 4 didn’t help, especially after his distance control didn’t look good on the approach.

However, the clutch par-saving putt from seven feet that followed began to turn the tide.

Needing to take advantage of the par-five fifth, Woods looked like he might let the opportunity to do so get away. However, he rolled in a 12-footer for his first birdie of the day.

He pencilled in all pars for the rest of the front nine and made the turn at one over.

“It could have been worse, but he’s still four back,” you were likely thinking. Still, six of seven fairways hit and seven of nine greens at that point didn’t look too bad.

When Woods missed a 12-footer at No. 10, it began to look like the birdie putts just weren’t going to fall and like a gutty 71 or 72 would be the best the former world No. 1 could muster.

However, that all changed at No. 11 when, after just missing the green, Woods played a Texas-wedge-style shot with his putter from the fringe. Unexpectedly, the 25-foot putt found the cup for a birdie and Tiger found himself at even par.

It was at this point that it really began to seem like Woods could contend this week and not merely make the cut (which, if you remember, wasn’t all that certain when the coffee was brewing).

In quick succession came:

A pured approach at No. 12 to eight feet.

Birdie.

A beautiful iron off the the par-three 13th tee to seven feet.

Birdie.

Through 13 holes in his first major of the year, Woods stood at two under.

Then…a duck hook off the No. 14 tee brought all the old doubts to the fore. Woods’ blind approach shot ended up in a bad spot and he was forced to take his medicine and swallow the bitter bogey pill.

Back to one-under.

At the 161-yard, par-three 15th, Woods played a pretty right-to-left iron shot that just carried onto the green, followed the contour and settled 12 feet from the hole.

He made the putt for his third birdie in four holes and got back to two-under.

At the par-five 16th, Woods (who ate par fives for breakfast in his 2006 win at Hoylake) got up and down from just right of the green for another birdie, his fifth in six holes.

Off the tee at No. 17, he had some good fortune after his tee shot struck a marshal in the face and found a nice lie. His eventual birdie putt burned the edge and Woods stood on the No. 18 tee at three under.

Just missing the fairway with a wood off the tee, Tiger stepped on a 3-wood from 275 yards. The attempted hero shot found a pot bunker in front of the green. Woods had to do the one-foot-in-one-foot-out routine to blast out to 20 feet. Two putts later, he left the 18th green at Hoylake to sign for an opening-round 69.

For the day, Tiger hit 10 of 14 fairways, 14 of 18 greens and used 28 putts. He made six birdies and three bogeys and will again be paired with Angel Cabrera and Henrik Stenson for his second round. The trio tees off at 9:05 a.m. ET tomorrow.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

45 Comments

Dan

Jul 18, 2014 at 2:04 pm

Ben, Are we going to break down Tiger’s 77 as well????????????

Reply Report comment
- Mike
  
  Jul 18, 2014 at 7:46 pm
  
  *crickets*
  
  The only thing that won’t be around when tiger retires are the annoying bandwagon ‘golf fans’ who sniff tw’s jock. Golf is here to stay. Rory is awesome. And there are a whole slew of up and coming young kids. BOttom line, it is very disrespectful of this site to focus on a guy who is a shadow of his former self and ignore completely the leader and any of the others who have shot better than tig.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Swifty
    
    Jul 22, 2014 at 4:31 pm
    
    Scrooge all of you Tiger Haters, especially those MANY of you who claim it’s not his skin color that ticks you off. Bull! Most of you LOVED it when Palmer and Nickaus were dominating, but all of a sudden, many of you hate Tiger, who is only trying to beat THEIR records. Since all pro golfers want to break the records that came before them, what other reason aside from his skin color do you claim to hate? Palmer & Nicklaus each got the same press and breaks Tiger gets. But all of a sudden, people hate HIM for no other reason than his color and that he screwed around on his wife, which I’d be willing to bet most of the haters do, also. Unless SHE was your sister it’s none of your fn BIZZNESS!
    
    Reply Report comment
Paul

Jul 18, 2014 at 4:21 am

Dodgy doctors,dodgy drops,dodgy back,dodgy woman…wats not to like!!!!

Reply Report comment
Rich

Jul 18, 2014 at 12:22 am

Tiger haters (and I’m one of them) will always hate him. Tiger lovers will always want to give him a kiss, yes? But the old argument of “the game will be nothing when he’s gone” is getting boring guys (see comments below). The game is bigger than him and will survive with or without him. But, if the journo’s would focus on a few more golfers than mainly him, it might spark some interest in some other blokes in the game so that there would be someone else to talk about. It’s so boring now just hearing mainly about Tiger. Forget the fact that he is a lying, cheating prat (sorry to all you lovers out there, I couldn’t resist) for a moment and try to build some interest in someone else in the game. Cheers.

Reply Report comment
- Michael
  
  Jul 18, 2014 at 12:41 am
  
  I don’t think one could be more ignorant. Whether or not he meets the everyone’s own criteria as a golf role model, he’s been such great asset to the sport of golf. He pioneered the biggest increase of golf’s popularity ever. Too bad for you because people want to hear about the most accomplished player in the game.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - MHendon
    
    Jul 18, 2014 at 12:10 pm
    
    Well Michael I wouldn’t say Tiger pioneered the biggest increase of golf’s popularity ever. I believe that honor goes to Mr. Arnold Palmer. I heard a statistic once that golfs popularity double during his hay day. Also you can’t quite say he’s the most accomplished golfer either when most everyone including himself feels majors are the true bench mark. So that honor go’s to Mr. Jack Nicklaus. You know golf did exist before Tiger and will continue to after, like all sports it’s popularity increases with high profile players. It was very popular during Bobby Jones era, again during Hogan, Snead, and Nelsons era, and as I already stated it’s biggest jump in popularity during Palmers era. Golf will be fine when Tiger retires, we’ll just lose all you Tiger fan boys who didn’t give a damn about the game before him and we’ll be back to the true core golf fans who care about the game not just one individual.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Tee
  
  Jul 18, 2014 at 2:18 am
  
  Why would you bother even to read this article then
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Rich
    
    Jul 18, 2014 at 4:33 am
    
    I didn’t. I didn’t have to because I bet it was the same as all the other Tiger boosting stories on this website. I was merely challenging the editors to be more diverse in their coverage of the players on tour. Or do you only want to watch and hear about Tiger too?
    
    Reply Report comment
    - bradford
      
      Jul 18, 2014 at 8:11 am
      
      Perhaps the “journo’s” wouldn’t have any interest without the amazing number of comments generated by the flame wars begun by ignorant and honestly idiotic children as yourself. If you’re not a fan, move along then ‘ol chap–we can deal without the negativity.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Rich
        
        Jul 18, 2014 at 8:18 am
        
        And yet you make it personal about me. Who’s the childish one? You don’t even know me and yet you’re having a go at me for a negative comment. Oh, that’s right. No one is allowed to make a negative comments about TW. Sorry, I forgot.
        
        Reply Report comment
      - Rich
        
        Jul 18, 2014 at 8:20 am
        
        Oh BTW, all you TW fan’s better be happy with only another 5-10 years more of golf. Cause when Tiger can’t play anymore the game will cease to exist, according to you lot.
        
        Reply Report comment
- Mateo
  
  Jul 18, 2014 at 2:36 am
  
  Ummmmmmmm that’s great and all and I’m sorry you’re bored with the fact that golf would be dead without tiger but IT IS TRUE!!!!!!!!!
  Get over it.
  Without tiger……… Purses would be half as much. Sponsors wouldn’t care. Nobody would watch. And golfwrx probably wouldn’t exist.
  Stop hating and realize the truth.
  Tiger is the greatest golfer ever and he saved this game I love.
  Stop being ignorant.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Rich
    
    Jul 18, 2014 at 8:15 am
    
    You know what, you’re right. I’ve changed my mind, Tiger’s awwwwwwwesssssoooooooommmmmmmmeeee!
    
    Reply Report comment
    - bradford
      
      Jul 18, 2014 at 9:46 am
      
      And yet he asks who the childish one is, —how many other threads are you polluting with your negativity? Is there no XBOX vs. Playstation thread you can go fight in, maybe an Apple vs Samsung thread?
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Rich
        
        Jul 18, 2014 at 10:19 am
        
        It’s called sarcasm dude. Geez. You would swear all you lot are related to him or in his pocket. Hang on, maybe you are related. He’s had enough affairs, maybe he’s spawned all his fan’s
        
        Reply Report comment
    - Hieronymus
      
      Jul 18, 2014 at 11:19 am
      
      “It’s called sarcasm dude. Geez. You would swear all you lot are related to him or in his pocket. Hang on, maybe you are related. He’s had enough affairs, maybe he’s spawned all his fan’s”
      
      Unlike you who couldn’t get lei’d in a brothel.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Rich
        
        Jul 18, 2014 at 3:51 pm
        
        Oh, ouch.
        
        Reply Report comment
Dennis Clark

Jul 17, 2014 at 8:13 pm

if the other guys had 106 professional wins, 14 of them in majors and won the career grand slam 3 times, they might be talking about them too?

Reply Report comment
- Rich
  
  Jul 18, 2014 at 12:13 am
  
  Yeah but he’s not doing that now is he, or anywhere near close to it for that matter.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Michael
    
    Jul 18, 2014 at 12:42 am
    
    Bottom line nobody elose in the game is as successful as Tiger Woods. That’s usually how sports media works.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Rich
      
      Jul 18, 2014 at 8:21 am
      
      You mean was right?
      
      Reply Report comment
Pingback: Breaking down Tiger Woods’ opening 69 | Spacetimeandi.com
BOBBY D

Jul 17, 2014 at 6:01 pm

THE LYING CHEATER SHOT 69…AIN’T THAT GRAND…FEEL SORRY FOR ALL THE PLAYERS WHO SHOT BETTER SCORES BUT RECEIVE NO ATTENTION…THE GAME WILL BE BETTER WHEN ELDRICK IS GONE !!!

Reply Report comment
- c masty
  
  Jul 17, 2014 at 7:54 pm
  
  Hate him or love him, the game will not be better when he is gone. He has brought so much attention, viewers, and players to courses and clubs the world over; basically money, to the game that his departure will be majorly felt. Sort of the John McEnroe tennis effect. But much larger.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Dr. Troy
    
    Jul 17, 2014 at 8:40 pm
    
    couldn’t agree more…Always gonna be Tiger haters that think the game will be ‘better’ when he’s gone…It’ll be much better when hacks like you are gone…Pace of play would improve!
    
    Reply Report comment
cn

Jul 17, 2014 at 4:22 pm

Could be a big weekend if he’s in contention on Sunday.

Reply Report comment
Birdy

Jul 17, 2014 at 3:53 pm

Why always talking about TW? Pay some attention to the others who deserve it more. TW cheated not only off but also on the course. He doesn’t deserve all this attention and adoration. He isn’t what he was and will never be!

Reply Report comment
- Mateo
  
  Jul 18, 2014 at 2:38 am
  
  When exactly did he cheat on the course?
  Don’t be stupid.
  
  Reply Report comment
John

Jul 17, 2014 at 3:45 pm

Nice spoiler email you guys sent out. Great title for those that recorded this to watch later! Solid work! Time to unsubscribe…

Reply Report comment
- John
  
  Jul 17, 2014 at 4:09 pm
  
  hahaha this happened to me, i was watching what i had recorded and tiger was on the 12th when i decided to check my emails….bad choice.
  
  Reply Report comment
Frank

Jul 17, 2014 at 1:52 pm

“…he had some good fortune after his tee shot struck a marshal in the face and found a nice lie.”

How fortunate!!

Reply Report comment
- mhendon
  
  Jul 17, 2014 at 6:34 pm
  
  Not for the marshal!
  
  Reply Report comment
Charles

Jul 17, 2014 at 1:46 pm

No comments on Patrick Reed 78?? Top 5 player in the World, according to him.

Reply Report comment
- +4
  
  Jul 17, 2014 at 2:18 pm
  
  Top 5!! Hahaha
  
  Reply Report comment
Trump

Jul 17, 2014 at 11:59 am

Day 1, Hole 1: Tiger misses fairway . TIGER IN DANGER OF MISSING CUT!

Reply Report comment
Trump

Jul 17, 2014 at 11:48 am

Day 1, hole 1: Tiger hits fairway. TIGER’S BACK!!!

Reply Report comment
FM

Jul 17, 2014 at 11:40 am

Spoiler Alert!!! Thanks- NOT!!!

Reply Report comment
- JK
  
  Jul 17, 2014 at 4:32 pm
  
  Yep…just unsubscribed. Idiots!
  
  Reply Report comment
MHendon

Jul 17, 2014 at 11:26 am

Yeah why focus on the guy in the lead or the other guys in between Tiger and him!

Reply Report comment
Chris

Jul 17, 2014 at 11:00 am

TIGER’S BACK! No seriously… let’s talk about his back.

Reply Report comment
Chris

Jul 17, 2014 at 10:42 am

A very fortunate 69z could have been 74 and actually looked like it if you watched the round.

Reply Report comment
- Mateo
  
  Jul 17, 2014 at 10:57 am
  
  You could say that about every single round of golf buddy.
  Just say nice round tiger. Is that so hard?
  
  Reply Report comment
- NFR
  
  Jul 17, 2014 at 11:05 am
  
  Or could’ve been a 66 with 3 putts that hit the hole but didn’t go in, as you say, if you actually watched the round.
  
  Curious to why you think it could have been worse, 70% fairways and 80% GIR are pretty good.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Mateo
    
    Jul 17, 2014 at 9:43 pm
    
    Well said. So sick of all the tiger haters. Tiger hit it solid today.
    
    The game would be DEAD without him. 99% of the haters don’t know golf and how much he’s meant and will continue to mean to it.
    
    Reply Report comment

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2 days ago

May 11, 2026

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GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

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