Tiger Woods was a model of steady on Thursday at the Memorial, making only one mistake (a double-bogey) and carding four birdies en route to a 2-under 70 that gave him a share of sixth place as the morning wave was close to wrapping up.
Woods had it going late on his first nine holes — he started on No. 10 — but was derailed by three poor shots at the par-4 18th hole that led to a double-bogey.
Woods took advantage of the par-5s, including a nice up-and-down from a bunker 30 yards in front of the seventh hole, nailing an 8-footer for birdie to get to 2 under.
Here’s how Tiger’s round unfolded:
No. 10, par 4, 471 yards
The temperatures were hovering around 60 degrees Thursday morning as Tiger took to the course, with a very light breeze of about 5 mph.
• Off the tee: It will be important for Tiger to keep the ball in play, especially on some of the tough par-4s. He starts the day nicely, striping it down the center of the fairway to leave himself 162 yards to the back-left pin location.
• Approach shot: Tiger plays a beautiful shot to about 13 feet right of the pin to set up an early birdie opportunity at the uphill par-4.
• On the green: Tiger leaves his birdie putt short and a bit right but knocks in a 2-footer for par.
• Tiger on the day: Even (through one hole).
No. 11, par 5, 567 yards
Tiger heads to his first par-5 of the day. Tiger has struggled on the scoring holes in recent weeks, particularly at the Masters and in missing the cut at Wells Fargo.
• Off the tee: Tiger has to be careful here at the downhill par-5. With a creek running diagonally across the fairway at 320 yards, most players must keep their tee ball to the right of the creek. And Tiger hits his second-straight fairway, smacking it up the right side and will have about 250 yards to take a shot at the green in two.
• Second shot: Another shot where Tiger has to use some caution, with the creek continuing to run along the left side of the fairway and in front of the green. Tiger hammers his second shot just off the back of the green and has about 40 feet to the hole.
• Around the green: Tiger won't be happy with his third shot, leaving it about 10 feet short of the cup, which he'll have for birdie.
• On the green: Tiger misses a golden opportunity, missing his birdie attempt about 6 inches to the left and he settles for a disappointing par.
• Tiger on the day: Even (through two holes).
No. 12, par 3, 184 yards
After a long delay because of the group ahead, Tiger moves to his first par-3 of the day, a picturesque hole that is guarded by the course's largest lake, as well as bunkers in the front right and back left.
• Off the tee: The pin is tucked on the far right and near the front, making this tee shot a bit more nerve-wracking because of the water. Tiger plays a bit too much club and finds the back bunker, and will be faced with a delicate sand shot back down the green.
• Around the green: Tiger flirts with disaster, taking dead aim at the pin, but comes to rest about 9 feet below the hole, which he'll have to save par.
• On the green: Tiger buries the par putt to limit any damage at the tough par-3.
• Tiger on the day: Even (through three holes).
No. 13, par 4, 455 yards
The par save on No. 12 has to feel good for Tiger, having recovered from a poor tee shot unlike Rory McIlroy in front of hm.
• Off the tee: The landing area is a bit narrow at this downhill par-4, with the right side being ideal for a chance to attack the green. Tiger takes less-than-driver and finds his third fairway of the day, narrowly missing a bunker on the left, and will have a tough angle to the back-right pin location.
• Approach shot: Tiger just clears the bunker on the left side of the green and comes to rest in the intermediate cut of rough, about 30 feet from the hole.
• Around the green: Tiger chips to about 6 feet, which he'll have for a second-straight par save.
• On the green: Tiger makes another nice par save, picking up his fourth-straight par to start the day.
• Tiger on the day: Even (through four holes).
No. 14, par 4, 363 yards
While it is incredibly early in the tournament, a pair of young stars are tied atop the leaderboard, with Bud Cauley and Kelly Kraft among six players at 2 under. Tiger is tied for 13th at even par.
• Off the tee: Tiger is faced with more thoughts of water off the tee, with a creek cutting into the fairway at about 245 yards. And Tiger flirts with the water but manages to hold up in the intermediate cut of rough and leaves himself about 75 yards to the green. It is Tiger's first missed fairway of the day.
• Approach shot: Tiger, staring at a front-hole location, lands his short wedge shot on the front of the green, leaving himself about 30 feet for birdie.
• On the green: Tiger gives his birdie try a go, but it comes to rest about two feet left of the cup and he settles for another par.
• Tiger on the day: Even (through five holes).
No. 15, par 5, 529 yards
Tiger will have another chance to score at a par-5, having left an easy chip short at the 11th that resulted in a two-putt par.
• Off the tee: Tiger slams his tee shot right down the center of the fairway, leaving himself a little more than 220 yards to the back-left pin location. The hole is very straight and uncomplicated, especially if you go straight off the tee.
• Second shot: Tiger launches a beautiful shot that lands on the green and settles about 20 feet from the cup, leaving himself an eagle putt from the right of the hole.
• On the green: Tiger gives his eagle putt a good run, but it settles to the right and about 2 feet away. He knocks that in to move into red numbers for the first time Thursday.
• Tiger on the day: 1 under (through six holes).
No. 16, par 3, 215 yards
Tiger had some problems at his last par-3 but was able to recover with a nice 9-footer to save par.
• Off the tee: Well, Tiger will have to do it again. With a green that is lined with water on the left and a big bunker on the right, Tiger finds the bunker in front of the green, and he'll have to get up-and-down to stay under par.
• Around the green: From the back of the bunker, Tiger plays a nice sand shot to about six feet left of the hole, which he'll have for par.
• On the green: And Tiger drains the putt for another sand save.
• Tiger on the day: 1 under (through seven holes).
No. 17, par 4, 478 yards
Tiger's putter seems to be treating him well thus far, with two nice one-putts to keep him from any bogeys over the first seven holes.
• Off the tee: Considered to be one of Muirfield's toughest holes, it is important to stay in play and take what the hole will give you. Tiger plays less-than-driver off the tee and hits another fairway (he has only missed one through eight holes).
• Approach shot: Tiger hits a majestic shot to about 13 feet, hitting his fifth green in regulation over his first eight holes.
• On the green: Tiger drains the midrange putt for birdie and now is only one shot off the lead.
• Tiger on the day: 2 under (through eight holes).
No. 18, par 4, 444 yards
Tiger has three one-putts in his first eight holes, moving himself to 2 under and tied with five others one back of Bud Cauley.
• Off the tee: The 18th hole has plenty of fairway, but anything wayward could find a creek (on the left) or a plethora of bunkers on the right. And he pushes his tee ball a bit too far right and finds one of those bunkers, leaving himself about 160 yards to the green. It is his second missed fairway on his front nine.
• Approach shot: Tiger pulls his second shot to the left and has about 30 yards left to the green.
• Around the green: Tiger hits his third shot into a greenside bunker and has about 70 feet to the pin. His bunker shot comes to rest about 11 feet away, which he'll have for bogey.
• On the green: Tiger's bogey putt settles two feet to the right of the cup and he picks up double-bogey.
• Tiger on the day: Even (through nine holes).
No. 1, par 4, 470 yards
After making a mess of the par-4 18th hole because of three straight wayward shots, Tiger will move to Muirfield's first hole, now four shots back of Bud Cauley and in a tie for 16th at even par.
• Off the tee: Hitting from an elevated tee box, Tiger finds another fairway and will have a nice attack position from the right side of the fairway, about 175 yards to the back-left pin.
• Approach shot: Tiger hits a beautiful shot that lands softly on the green, about 15 feet under the hole. Answering his double with a birdie would show progress for Tiger, who has compounded mistakes with others in recent weeks.
• On the green: Tiger nearly gets it done, leaving his birdie putt on the lip, but it won't fall. He settles for a two-putt par.
• Tiger on the day: Even (through 10 holes).
No. 2, par 4, 455 yards
Except for No. 18, Tiger seems to be on top of his game, with his ball-striking looking solid and his putter having eyes for the hole.
• Off the tee: Tiger will need to avoid the right side, as the fairway and green are lined by a creek after 100 yards from the tee. Outside of the creek, the hole is very accessible and straight. But Tiger overcompensates a bit and finds the left rough, and is quite short, leaving himself more than 200 yards to the front-right pin location.
• Approach shot: Hitting out of the rough and with a bunker sitting right in front of the flag, Tiger takes his approach out to the left and comes up short of the green, but should have an easy chip across the green to try to get up-and-down for par.
• Around the green: Tiger plays a nice shot to about six feet, and he'll look for a fourth one-putt to save par.
• On the green: And he does it again, keeping himself at even par with another nice up-and-down for par.
• Tiger on the day: Even (through 11 holes).
No. 3, par 4, 401 yards
This is the last of the three opening par-4s, and Tiger will get to a pair of scoring holes (par-5s) over the next four holes.
• Off the tee: With plenty of fairway to hit to, and having to sit back a bit because of a creek that lines the end of the fairway, Tiger hits less-than-driver into the middle and will have 140 yards to the pin.
• Approach shot: Tiger takes dead aim at the flag, going right over the lake and landing nine feet under the pin.
• On the green: Tiger can't find the right line on his birdie attempt, hitting it two feet past, settling for an easy par.
• Tiger on the day: Even (through 12 holes).
No. 4, par 3, 200 yards
There is now a five-way tie for the lead, with Bud Cauley dropping a shot at No. 16 and Andrew Romero joining the group at 3 under. Meanwhile, Tiger is three back and tied for 14th.
• Off the tee: Playing the first non-par-4 of his final nine holes, Tiger hits a nice shot to hole-high and about 20 feet right of the flag.
• On the green: Tiger leaves his birdie attempt about 18 inches short and settles for a two-putt par.
• Tiger on the day: Even (through 13 holes).
No. 5, par 5, 527 yards
Tiger will now enter a stretch where he can get into red figures, approaching the first of two par-5s over his next three holes.
• Off the tee: With the extreme dogleg right, Tiger chooses to cut the corner and does so beautifully, leaving himself a little more than 200 yards to the front flag.
• Second shot: Taking dead aim at the extreme front pin, Tiger comes up a couple of yards short of the green, but has an easy chip to the hole.
• Around the green: Tiger's third shot comes up about a foot short of the cup, setting up a tap-in birdie to move back into red figures.
• Tiger on the day: 1 under (through 14 holes).
No. 6, par 4, 447 yards
Tiger, tied for seventh at 1 under, approaches the sixth hole, which requires precision off the tee, with bunkers lining the left and a bunker on the right that can come into play if the ball fades too much.
• Off the tee: Tiger hammers his tee shot, but it finds that right-hand bunker, and he'll have a tough shot over water to the extreme left-pin location.
• Approach shot: Tiger plays his sand shot perfectly, landing it nearly pin-high, and sets up a 15-footer for birdie.
• On the green: Tiger's slick birdie attempt runs about three feet past, but makes the comebacker for par.
• Tiger on the day: 1 under (thru 15 holes)
No. 7, Par 5, 563 yards
Tiger heads to his final par 5 of the day, a double-dogleg that is not reachable for most players.
• Off the tee: Tiger hammers his tee ball, but finds the right rough and will have around 250 yards to the pin, which is located in the middle of the green.
• Second shot: Tiger tries to go for it, but can't get enough on it to carry a bunker about 30 yards in front of the green. He'll have to get up-and-down from there for birdie.
• Third shot: Tiger hits a wonderful about eight feet beyond the pin, and he'll have a look at birdie.
• On the green: Tiger drains the 8-footer for a birdie and moves to 2 under.
• Tiger on the day: 2 under (thru 16 holes).
No. 8, par 3, 185 yards
Tiger, one shot off the lead at 2 under, has done a better job on the par-5s on Thursday, playing them at 2 under. He's also done well to save par after hitting two bunkers on par-3s.
• Off the tee: Tiger launches one that tracks toward the back-left hole location and comes to rest about nine feet under the hole.
• On the green: Tiger is a bit aggressive on his birdie attempt and knocks it 2 feet past, but taps that in for a par.
• Tiger on the day: 2 under (thru 17 holes).
No. 9, par 4, 412 yards
Tiger's final hole is a dangerous one, derailing Trevor Immelman's early run with a double-bogey.
• Off the tee: Tiger has plenty of fairway to work with and takes it up the left side to give himself a nice angle at the pin, which is in the extreme front right.
• Approach shot: Tiger is a bit aggressive and fades a bit past the flag, landing in the intermediate cut of rough just off the right side of the green.
• Around the green: Tiger nearly holes his shot from just off the green, leaving it 4 inches short. He taps in to cap off an impressive 2-under 70, one shot off the lead.
• Tiger on the day: 2 under (round complete).
