• AT&T National, Round One

Woods struggles on first day in Pennsylvania

Tiger Woods surveys an iron shot © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Rose builds four-stroke lead ahead of final round
  
• News: Karlsson suffers wrist injury
  
• News: Rose leads the way as Tiger sneaks in
  
• News: Westwood and Poulter lurk as Canizares leads
  
• Profile: Justin Rose | Tiger Woods

Defending champion Tiger Woods is in danger of missing the cut after struggling on the first day of action at the AT&T National.

Woods looked on course to put himself among the leaders after reaching the turn at one under, but a series of dropped shots late in the round saw him card a disappointing three-over 73.

The 34-year-old finds himself seven strokes off the pace, set by Arjun Atwal, Joe Ogilvie, Jason Day and Nick Watney at four under.

Woods has been forced to endure a turbulent time since ending his self-imposed exile from the game in April. There have been intermittent flashes of his brilliance - a back-nine 30 during the third round of the US Open stands out - but also dismal spells that have prompted questions about whether he can ever rediscover his best form.

True to form, the world No. 1 saw his front nine get off to a chaotic start - a birdie at the first, then a bogey at the following hole - but the round soon settled down as he reached the turn in 34. The early highlight was a superlative 61-foot putt on the fifth, which handed Woods his second birdie of the day.

The American remained one under through 13, but a bogey at 14 set on course a disastrous run which culminated in a double bogey at 17. From tee to green there were faults with Woods' game - he required 30 putts, while he hit just over half of his fairways with the driver - as he failed to pick up a birdie over his final 13 holes.

Elsewhere, Justin Rose began his recovery from a desperately disappointing final-day implosion at the Travelers Championship by carding a one-under 69 that leaves him tied with Jim Furyk and Greg Owen. The world No. 35 led at the end of the first three days in Connecticut, but he collapsed over his final 18 holes and wound up in a tie for ninth place.

This was a far steadier performance, but some sloppy work on the greens prevented him from picking up birdies - he could manage only two. He remains firmly in contention for his second PGA Tour win in three starts, having claimed a first win on American soil at Memorial.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.