The mere presence of Tiger Woods was
intimidating enough for many of the other 155 players teeing off on
fog-shrouded Pebble Beach.
Then he had the nerve to go out and shoot a 6-under 65, leaving
his fellow competitors with little to do but put on a brave front.
There were no white towels waved to concede defeat Thursday. Not
so early into the U.S. Open, with thick fog not even allowing the
first round to be completed.
But it was clear that Woods would make winning this Open a much
more daunting task.
``The tournament is not over,'' Sergio Garcia said. ``It has
just started.''
``It's a long tournament. When you slip, you can slip a lot,''
Phil Mickelson said after a 71.
``He's beatable,'' insisted New Zealand's Michael Campbell, who
also was six shots back.
Brave words, all. But not from Bobby Clampett, who seemed to be
thinking more about his job as a television analyst even though he
was only three shots back after a 68.
``The guy is so good. I'm fascinated by him,'' Clampett said.
``I just love watching him.''
So does Rocco Mediate.
``I'm not surprised by anything he does,'' Mediate said.
Tiger Woods acknowledges the crowd after finishing his first round at the 2000 US Open. Allsport
The story of the first round of the 100th Open was written
before almost half the field had even teed off, as Woods used a
brilliant short game to get up-and-down seven times from around the
green to post his 65.
John Huston got in before Woods with a 67 and Miguel Angel
Jimenez was only one back after a 66. But both were virtually
ignored as Woods set the tone for this Open early, before thousands
of fans lined around the picturesque fairways watching his every
move.
Jimenez wasn't ready to concede anything.
``I'm tired of it, yes,'' the Spaniard said. ``Tiger is the best
player in the world, but you'd think there's only one player here.
There's 156 players here.''
Actually 155, after John Daly blew up with a 14 on the 18th hole
and withdrew once again from the Open.
But top players like Mickelson and Lehman were already six shots
back of the world's best player, and beware of a Tiger bearing a
lead.
``I'd much rather have the lead than try to catch up,'' Woods
said. ``If you shoot the same score as someone else that's leading
the tournament, you lose. I'd rather be leading.''
Woods will have to protect that lead Friday with a late tee
time, and the rush to finish the rounds suspended by Thursday's fog
could make conditions even worse.
At Pebble Beach, the weather can change at any time, and that
comforts some of those chasing Woods.
``Good conditions could change tomorrow afternoon,'' Paul
Azinger said. ``Then he will be on the bad side of the tee times.''
A small consolation, perhaps. But just enough to give Tiger's
chasers a bit of much needed hope.
