Hole 5 (par 5, 531 yards): Woods took driver on the reachable par 5, understanding the need to make up some shots quickly if he hopes to work his way back into realistic contention. His ball started left of center and he motioned for it to move right; the ball eluded trouble and settled in the short grass. (Fairways at St. Andrews are so expansive that two things are paramount: angles and avoiding the nasty pot bunkers. With so many different ways to play a hole, it can be tricky to deduce a tee shot’s outcome in relation to the player’s original intent.)
“I’d say it’s a little left of where he was trying to hit it,” remarked a commentator, “but he’s got it in play. Tough to get the second shot close there at 5.”
From 231 yards, Woods took a fairway metal and produced a high fade, appearing pleased with the strike and walking after it. The ball landed a few yards short of the green and was “unfortunate not to get any runout,” said a commentator, leaving an dicey eagle chip, uphill at first but with the green running away.
The three-time Open champion played a bump-and-run into the hill, but the ball picked up too much speed upon reaching the green, running out to approximately 25 feet past the hole. His birdie putt was left the whole way, but he tapped in for par, albeit a disappointing one.
4-over thru 5; 5/5 fairways hit; 2/5 greens in regulation
