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U.S. Open 2020: Tiger Woods has already done something at Winged Foot he couldn't do in 2006
Tiger Woods plays a tee shot on the front nine during the first round of the 120th U.S. Open Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Gregory Shamus
Tiger Woods’ slow start on Day 1 at Winged Foot might’ve conjured memories for some of his 2006 U.S. Open appearance. Tiger started with three bogeys in 2006 and was 2-over through five holes, same as his mark on Thursday at Winged Foot.
That early struggle-fest was righted on the ninth hole by Tiger, however, as he made his second birdie of the day (he also birdied 5) and he kept pouring in birdies at 10 and 11—putting him in red numbers on the back nine.
At that mark in the championship, Tiger had already made a bit of history at Winged Foot compared to his 2006 struggles after the passing of his father. Take a look at this stat the PGA Tour pointed out.
That’s pretty unbelievable, but in fact true. Tiger’s lone birdies in 2006 in his rounds of 76-76 came at the fifth and 15th holes in Round 1 and the 17th hole in Round 2. His three birdies were paired with three double bogeys and nine bogeys on Day 1 and 2 in 2006.
Winged Foot continues to play tough on Day 1, but Tiger’s at least making a bid to stay around for the week with that hot stretch of golf, which that stat proves is absolutely significant for Tiger.
Here's that three-birdie-in-a-row stretch:
At No. 9:
And he came THIS close to a fourth birdie in a row ... he thought his putt at No. 12 was in (second video):
Tiger then added this BOMB at the 16th hole:
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