Tiger shoots 69 with St. Andrews on the horizon

The second and final round of the JP McManus Invitational Pro-Am was more agreeable for Tiger Woods, who scored a four-under par 69 at the Adare Manor course in Ireland on Tuesday, giving him a two-day total of four-over 148.

It must be at least mildly encouraging for Woods, who, nine days before the start of the British Open at St. Andrews, broke par in a competitive round for the first time since the third round of the U.S. Open.

"There's no doubt, if Tiger hits form at all, he's comfortably the favorite to win any of the majors and St. Andrews sets up very well for him," Padraig Harrington said. "Tiger has an advantage, I feel, on a course like that, that he spins the ball very well. He's the No. 1 player at getting the ball to finish closest to where it lands out there, and St. Andrews requires that so much because of the firmness of the greens and how tight the pin positions will be.

"So I would think St. Andrews sets up well for him and he's well capable of winning without hitting his very best form. Is he about to hit that? I wouldn't write him off, that's for sure."

-- John Strege