Tiger Woods was pleased with his first-round 67 at the Open Championship on Thursday.
Chasing his 15th major victory and first in more than four years, Woods started superbly, compiling an outward 30 to reach four under through nine holes.
He could not quite keep up that pace on his back nine however, making eight pars and a bogey to finish the day three under, but was still happy with the state of his game heading into Friday's second round.
"I hit the ball well all day. I was just lacking a little bit of pace on the greens coming home," said Woods, who has a chance to return to world number one this weekend should he win.
His sole bogey of the day came at the 15th, though it could have been much worse after his ball got caught in the deep rough. Woods muscled the ball on to the green and escaped with a five.
"It was pretty soft, the wind wasn't blowing and we're backing golf balls up," he said.
"The first hole is a perfect indication. I hit a five-iron straight at it and it rolled out eight feet. I can't remember the last time it does that on links golf course.
"I felt like I had pretty good control. I was shaping the golf ball both ways - sometimes I rode the wind, sometimes I held it against it.
"I had certain sections I wanted to put the ball in, and I did that all day.
"I'm very pleased with what I did. I just needed to hit the putts a little bit harder - these greens are not quick."
golf365.com