After an opening 70, Tiger is well placed to pounce

Tiger Woods never threatened the top of the leaderboard Thursday at Royal Troon, but his opening round of 1-under 70 left him in good shape to make a run for the Claret Jug as the week wears on. Using a 4-iron off several tees, Woods played a smooth and sensible round, and said he was happy with the way he controlled his shots.

TROON, Scotland (PA) -- His fans scrawled 'Go Tiger' in huge letters in the sands of the beach at the Firth of Clyde on Thursday. And while Tiger Woods did not exactly make waves at a becalmed Royal Troon Thursday afternoon, he is poised menacingly in red figures.

Back-to-back bogeys on the 12th and 13th scarred an opening round of 1-under 70 that fleetingly promised great things as he accompanied Lee Westwood (1-over 72) and Greg Norman (2-over 73) on an afternoon that the world's best golfer admitted was as easy as they come.

"I'm pleased, I played pretty well," said Woods. "I lost a couple of shots on the front nine but overall it was a good day. I controlled the shots well."

Woods, who is 158th in driving accuracy on the PGA Tour this season, sensibly left the driver in the bag on a course where accuracy is at a premium, taking 4-irons off most of the tees.

"You've just got to get the ball in play and move on," Woods explained. "The course is probably as easy as you'll ever see it. It's as good as it gets out there.

"But there were some tough pins. It was hard to get close," he added. "Even with sand irons and wedges, you can't get too aggressive. Just play for what the golf course gives you."

He managed four birdies, on the second with an inspired 25-footer and then at the sixth, eighth and 16th. But he did not get close on the tricky greens often enough to trouble the leaderboard.

No one, however, should be foolish enough to dismiss his chances, especially if the wind begins to blow and turns the closing nine holes into the beast for which Royal Troon is famed.

Norman, the Open winner at Sandwich in 1993 and at Turnberry in 1986, raised by far the biggest cheer of the group with an inspired 35-foot par putt at the 18th hole, after which he lifted the ball out of the cup and flipped it to Woods, who caught it.

"I liked that," said Woods.

"We had a good time out there grinding. It was good to see Greg make some good saves. He showed the champion that he is," Woods added. "I just hope I can capitalize on that start for the rest of the tournament."

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