After finishing in the top five at Quicken Loans National this month, Tiger Woods is back this week looking for his first league win since the 2008 US Open.

The 14-time Grand Champion participates in the third golf tournament, The Open Championship, this week at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland. Tiger opened the game Thursday with a par 71, pulling 2-over on the back nine after a 34 on the front of 34.

Tiger played the Open in 2015, missing the cut and finishing 137th. His career at Carnoustie includes a T47 at the Scottish Open 1995, he missed the cup the following year, and then finished T7 at the 1999 Open and T12 at the Open 2007.

Tiger leaves at 5:20 ET with Hideki Matsuyama and Russell Knox. Follow him for analysis by shooting his opening round.

Final Reflections

Well, not a great trick for Tiger. He drew the short straw with his start times and the combination of times, but all in all he is not in bad shape. The biggest fight today was once again his tee shots. Unable to play carefully with the weather, he had trouble with his pilot, but managed to scramble and minimize the damage. The birdie missed on the 18th is a huge blow, but even heading to the weekend is not terrible (just ask Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas who are watching from their couches)

Tiger has a serious work to do this weekend, but if the weather is mild and that he can play as he did yesterday on the front nine, get ready for some Tiger roars this weekend at Carnoustie .

Hole 18 – Par 4

A last tee iron here for Tiger and it is crushed on the right side of the fairway and makes a good run to the middle. This one was pretty. Tiger's approach avoids the bunker, lands safely on the green and runs towards the cut within 10 feet. This putt has moved from left to right but hits the edge of the cup and does not fall. He will draw for the par and the card another par-par 71 (Even for the tournament).

Hole 17 – Par 4

Tiger keeps this iron nice and low and finds the left side of the fairway. He finds the green with his approach, about 30 feet high and high. Tiger gave this one a good run going up a few meters after the hole. By. Even at 17 (Even for the tournament).

Hole 16 – Par 3

The last three holes at Carnoustie are far from easy, and Tiger did well yesterday to play them until the end. If he can do the same thing today and leave 18 in the red, he'll be in great shape for a weekend magic.

Tiger did not help here, losing his tee iron in the right front. bunker. He did well to get up and go out, but the ball checked before the cut and failed to get closer to about 15 feet. His putt ends up right of the hole, leaving an unfortunate bogey tap-in. Even until 16 (Even for the tournament).

Hole 15 – By 4

TW now feels out of the tee. This is another perfect iron on the tee and in the fairway. From 222 meters, with the wind in the back, Tiger floats an iron 7 in the middle of the green. The Tiger putt of about 20 feet was left all the way, missing the cut but leaving a normal one. 1-under to 15 (1-under for the tournament).

Hole 14 – Par 5

Tiger blew an iron on the fairway of the start, leaving 235 yards to reach the green in two. He shoots 5-iron for his approach and the ball rolls on the front of the green, near the front spindle. He has a great chance for the eagle and, at worst, for the birdies. Tiger took his time looking at this one, but it leaves a little short and fair. It's a tapie birdie for Tiger, who returns to 1-under by 14 (1-under for the tournament).

For the first time this week, Tiger has took advantage of his tee length and scored on a par 5. if he has a chance this weekend he will have to do more of the same.

Hole 13 – By 3

"Tiger, no" Not good. It could have been worse, though, as Tiger's tee shot came up to the bunker. He has a field with little green to work, and his approach to the green passes the cup. With 18 feet and a small break from left to right, Tiger lets out a powerful hand pump after burying the putt. This is a great par for the Big Cat. Even through 13 (Even for the tournament).

Hole 12 – By 4

Tiger lines another iron in the middle of the fairway of the tee. Tiger takes a 3-iron here and breath on the front part of the green on the right. He is well over 50 feet to the left, and he has two putts for par. Even up to 12 (Even for the tournament)

Hole 11 – Par 4

Push the tee here from Tiger, and it's solid in the fairway. Her 8-iron approach safely finds the green in 20 feet for another longer look on birdie. Another long birdie putt for TW! He is back to even until 11 (Even for the tournament).

Hole 10 – Par 4

Another miss with driver for Tiger, ending in the thick rough on the right. He is doing well with his approach, going from green to rough but far from the cut. His putt climbs a slope towards the cup with a massive break and comes a few inches from falling. Super ride since TW, but it's another peer. 1 to 10 (1 for the tournament).

Rating Update: Tommy Fleetwood shot a 6-under 65 on Friday before taking the lead for Kevin Kisner, but ZJ is coming too! Friday morning, Zach Johnson, aged 4 to under 67, gives him the lead at 6 under the club.

Thoughts at the Turn

Tiger's strategy yesterday was simple: irons to iron the tee, avoid problems, pull pins when possible. With the winds and rain of today, this strategy has prevented mistakes by any means necessary. Tiger was 2 to less than 4 yesterday, but was 2 to 4 today. He missed the rider several times (and an iron) on the start and was forced to jostle early after some missteps with bogeys on # 2 and # 3. Then he seemed to find his pace a bit before making a another shot on 9. It's time to make the cut and make a move on Saturday, which Tiger has already done several times this season. That being said, I would not be surprised if the elements continue to win the day

Hole 9 – By 4

Stinger Time! The tee's tiger iron flies low and long on the right side of the fairway. Not too bad. He loses his approach to the right, running out of green in the fairway. His chip rolls within 10 feet, but misses him by saving. Hard to return to 1 on the day (1 for the tournament)

Hole 8 – Par 3

Tiger cuts this one through the wind and sails the green perfectly. The pin is guarded by bunkers and nestled toward the back of the green, and Tiger's balls leave the cup safely for another chance of birdie. Her birdie putt was close, but just missed the cup by a few inches, leaving another pair-in. Not bad, but definitely a missed opportunity after a good start to gain momentum before heading back. Even up to 8 (Even for the tournament)

Hole 7 – By 4

Tiger goes back to an iron from the tee but loses this one too. He's in the rough rough with a little more than 200 yards to go, and his second shot gets up short of the green, leaving a small flip niche that nestles just a few feet from the cup. He types in a big by to stay even until 7 (Even for the tournament).

Hole 6 – By 5

Another driver for Tiger, and this one goes right, right in the rough. His second shot of the rough is solid, finding the fairway and leaving a corner in the green. Tiger's ball landed in a divot, and he played cautiously, finding the green but well below the hole. There is not much going on here, normally two putts at a distance. Even up to 6 (Even for the tournament)

Hole 5 – Par 4

Tiger's starting shot is solid, just in the middle of the fairway, but not as far his partners. From 183 yards and the wind behind his back, he throws an 8-iron in the wind and finds the green. He is below the hole with another birdie look. And it's gone! Tiger gives this one a roll and it falls for its second consecutive birdie to return to even by the day to 5 (Even for the tournament).

Hole 4 – Par 4

The grounds not being so dry, Tiger seems to be looking for the distance to safety, pulling the pilot again on number 4. This one is torn on the fairway, and judging by the twirl club, he likes that. Tiger drops his approach shot within 15 feet of the cut and puts a little spin on it, bringing the ball behind the hole for a solid look at a necessary early birdie. It was a bit straighter than Tiger expected, but he fell in love with the birdies. 1-to-4 (1-for the tournament).

Hole 3 – By 4

Needing a rebound hole after a hard blow on No. 2, Tiger's iron from the tee finds the left fairway at the top of a small hill. Useful shot here. His approach is good, not great, finding the green about 20-30 feet from the hole. He left a handful of birdie putts yesterday, but did not make the same mistake here. Tiger gave this one a ride, but rolled 5 feet after the cut. Oh no, this one just misses on the left, about a ball revolution far from falling for by. It's another bogey. Ouch. 2-over thru 3 (2-for the tournament).

Hole 2 – Par 4

Whoa, driver here for Tiger on No. 2. After staying conservative almost all day yesterday, he goes for this one but finds the rough good. His second shot was not pretty. He barely manages to get out of the stalemate and he can reach 100 yards forward in the crowd. He drops his approach to the center of the putting green, and his putt never came back from the right, leaving a tap-in bogey. 1-over thru 2 (1-over for the tournament)

Hole 1 – Par 4

Tiger starts his day like yesterday with a big iron tee, far and down from the middle of the fairway. His approach is safe, less than 20 feet and right of the cut. Nothing good to see from there, easy two shots to start the day. Even through 1 (Even for the tournament).