PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – When Tiger Woods made his lone birdie of the day with a lengthy putt at the par-4 15th, he raised both arms in mock celebration. It was that kind of day, one with plenty of frustration and very little to smile about at Royal Portrush.
Woods, the reigning Masters champ making his first start in a month, opened with a 7-over 78 -- his highest opening round in 21 starts in The Open Championship.
Playing in heavy rains at times and increasingly chilly weather, Woods struggled to convert putts and stay out of trouble. At one stretch in the middle of his round, he bogeyed five of six holes.
