Woods stays steady in first round

AUGUSTA -- There were plenty of low scores and excitement to keep the crowd engaged Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club.

All the while, four-time Masters champion Tiger Woods was steady through his day, just a little shy of joining the fray.

Still, Woods finished at 1-under-par 71 as he tries for his 15th major championship.

“I hit a lot of beautiful putts, a lot of beautiful putts,” Woods said. “And they were just skirting the edge, so hopefully they will just start going in.”

Woods’ front nine was uneventful, opening with five straight pars. After a birdie on the sixth hole, Woods had three straight pars to make the turn.

His back nine was much more active, starting with back-to-back bogeys to open the side. After a par on the 12th, he responded with consecutive birdies to get back to 1 under for the round. From there, Woods finished with four straight pars.

He pointed to his par on the 12th hole as the reason he kept his round going.

“A couple of slip-ups there on (Nos.) 10 and 11,” Woods said. “And I hit a good 8-iron shot (on 12) and had no lie. I was sitting in a hole, and I was just pleased to keep it on the green. And I kept it on the green and made that putt. Then I got it going on 13 and 14.”

Woods enters Friday’s round six shots back of leader Rory McIlroy, who had a bogey-free 65.

“I would much rather be where Rory’s at, but, hey, it’s a long way to go,” Woods said. “We have a long grind ahead of us. The temperature’s supposed to warm up, and I’m sure they will start making the pins more difficult as the week goes on.”

Woods played with Graeme McDowell and Robert Allenby, with McDowell finishing with a 74 and Allenby shooting a 75.

McDowell, the reigning U.S. Open champion, had his round slowed by a double-bogey on the 10th hole, and he added two birdies and two bogeys.

“It was frustrating because I did everything right,” McDowell said. “I put the ball in the right positions, but I just couldn’t get it going on the greens. Two over is a little frustrating with the way I hit it (Thursday).”

Woods, on the other hand, liked the way he played.

He thinks he just needs to sink a few more putts.

“I’m very pleased,” Woods said. “I’m right there in the ballgame. I’m only six back, and as I said, we’ve got a lot of golf ahead of us.”

This story was originally published April 8, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Woods stays steady in first round."