Tiger Woods in battle for survival at The Open

The Tiger Woods St Andrews Open hat-trick already looks scuppered after a grim opening front nine.

Woods, winner of the Claret Jug at the Home of Golf in 2000 and 2005, had a disastrous start after bogeying the opening hole as a result of dunking his approach into the burn.

He dropped three more shots with no birdies in sight at the halfway mark of the 1st round and cut a forlorn figure as he sorrowfully went into the more demanding homeward stretch on +4.

Unless he produces something pretty impressive in worsening playing conditions on the back nine, it’s feasible that Woods will have played himself out of the hunt.

Beforehand the struggling 14-times major champion continued to be upbeat and talk a good game. Now he just needs to play one otherwise he runs the risk of the Open chop and more embarrassment.

And to make things even worse, both of his playing partners – 2010 St Andrews victor Louis Oosthuizen and Aussie ace Jason Day – are performing like potential champions.

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