Woods struggles at Pinehurst
Tiger Woods was four shots off the pace after his first nine holes at the 105th US Open, which began in Pinehurst, North Carolina, today.
The 2005 US Masters champion luckily birdied his first hole of the day but then struggled, especially off the tee, and reached the turn one over, along with Englishman Luke Donald and South African Ernie Els.
Donald's progress was steady until the 16th, when he pulled his drive into rough and then with his third shot chipped over the green, eventually recording a bogey. Els did well to save par on the 10th, making a 14-foot putt after pitching into the guarding bunker, but bogeyed three holes later and was still searching for his first birdie as he turned for home. American Rocco Mediate is out in front at three under after recording an eagle on the monster 607-yard 10th. He leads by one stroke from fellow American Olin Browne and defending champion Retief Goosen.
Meanwhile Ian Poulter was eight over par after 14, with Paul Casey fairing even worse - 11 over after 15.