Woods finds it tough going

Tiger Woods reacted angrily today to ruining what could have been a brilliant start to the NEC world championship in Akron.

Three times a winner on the Firestone course, Woods has returned without a stroke play victory this year and in danger of losing his world number one spot to either Vijay Singh or Ernie Els.

He had raced to five under par on the opening day after a five-hour rain delay, but just before nightfall bogeyed the 16th and 17th to fall two behind American Ryder Cup team-mate Stewart Cink.

And when play resumed at 7.30am he took another bogey and had to settle for a two under 68.

Woods’ drive down the 464-yard 18th, a hole he birdied in near total darkness for one of his wins, was carved into the trees 40 yards off-target.

He was closer to the 10th fairway, in fact, and was lucky to have the chance to hit the ball under the branches up near the green.

A chip to just over three feet gave him the chance to save par, but he missed it and slung his putter back over towards his bag – and he has more than once yesterday.

Cink resumed with two pars to be two ahead of David Toms, Zach Johnson and Paraguay’s Carlos Franco, but all four still had first round holes to complete.

Defending champion Darren Clarke played 16 yesterday and set off again with a birdie and a par for a one over 71.

“That was very, very good considering how I played,” said the Ulsterman. “I was hitting everything right and chipping out of the trees a lot of the time.

“I spoke to Butch (coach Butch Harmon) on the telephone last night.

“He told me what was going on and I flushed those first two drives this morning.

“I’m just not smart enough to work it out for myself!”

Paul McGinley, in the 10th and last automatic place in the Ryder Cup race with only next week to come, was disappointed he could do no better than a three-over 73.

The Dubliner, who parred the last three holes on his return this morning, commented: “All in all I got what I deserved.

“I had two three-putts, a chip out from beside a tree and at the second I took four from the edge for a bogey six. Very disappointing.”

While David Howell and Ian Poulter, eighth and ninth in the points standings, are not playing this week Fredrik Jacobson is and if the Swede finishes in the top 13 it would be bad news indeed for McGinley.

Jacobson is 14th on one of the qualifying tables, but also sixth on the world points list from which the first five places in Bernhard Langer’s side are decided this Sunday.

Should he grab one of those away from Lee Westwood then McGinley falls out of an automatic spot because Westwood is top of the Order of Merit points list.

Jacobson signed for a one under 69 today and said: “I know where I am standing, but what I’m concentrating on is trying to win the tournament. That’s what I do at every event and I can’t try any harder than that.”

Westwood was also one under with two to play.