Grand blanc (Michigan): Tiger Woods' British Open hangover continued at the Buick Open on Thursday as the world No. 1 laboured to an opening round one-under 71 on one of his favourite layouts.
Back in action for the first time since the British Open where he missed the cut in a major championship for only the second time as a professional, Woods will have to improve on his first round effort on Friday if he is to make the cut.
He faces an even steeper climb if he hopes to collect a third Buick Open title with Steve Lowery leading at nine-under 63.
"I know I've got to play well to make the cut, I've got to play well to get myself back into contention," Woods said.
"Guys are only going to continue to go low, this is the way the golf course is playing it's going to be 20-plus to win the tournament."
One of his favourite layouts, Warwick Hills would have been the last places Woods would expect to find trouble.
In eight previous visits the world No.1 was a combined 137-under par, shares the course record of 61 with Billy Mayfair and has never finished worse than 11th.
Woods had no trouble identifying his problem area describing the round as one of the worst putting days of his career.
The 33-year-old American was never able to get a disobedient putter under control, starting with three-putting from 11-feet for bogey on the second hole.
A battling Woods looked ready to get his round back on track with a run of four birdies at seven, 10, 12 and 14 but then missed on a seven-footer for bogey at 15 and miss-fired on a five-footer for birdie at 17.
"It was probably one of the worst putting days I've ever had," Woods said.
"It's a process. I'm not going to get it back in one day, guys are going to continue to go low, so I've got to get it back over the next three days. I'm going to have to take advantage of the holes you're suppose to take advantage of; the par fives, a couple of short par fours, handle those and sprinkle a few more here-and-there and come up with the number."
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