As McIlroy was rolling back the years - a 65 is the Northern Irishman's finest start to a major since the 2011 US Open, which he won easily - Woods provided a grim reminder of the scale of his ongoing physical struggles.
Woods, playing in just his second event since his right leg was shattered in car crash in February last year, actually opened brightly at Southern Hills. He birdied the 10th hole, his 1st, and sat two under par after five. Yet by the time Woods limped heavily towards post-round media duties, he had signed for a 74 and was in obvious pain.
"My leg is not feeling as good as I would like it to be," he said. "We'll start the recovery process and get after it tomorrow. I just can't load it. Loading hurts, pressing off it hurts, walking hurts and twisting hurts. It's just golf. If I don't play that, then I'm all right."
This story is from the May 20, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the May 20, 2022 edition of The Guardian.
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