Tough start for Tiger

Defending champion Tiger Woods needed to be at his combative best to rescue par at the opening hole as the 109th US Open got under way under dark skies and in persistent drizzle at Bethpage Black.

With rain threatening to stay the course throughout the second major of the year, the par-70 New York monster – which saw only Woods manage a finishing score under par when it first hosted the championship in 2002 – was set to play even longer than its 7,426 yards, and the United States Golf Association were ready to keep their promise to move tee boxes forward during the week.