Day 2 at the Ryder Cup: Can Europe make up ground on the United States?

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SOUTHHAMPTON, N.Y. – Tiger Woods hopes a return to the type of greens he grew up on can resurrect his putting and put him in contention for a fourth U.S. Open title. On the 10-year anniversary since the last of his 14 major championship wins, Woods hoped the poa annua greens at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club would be the catalyst to finally have all aspects of his game clicking together. In his last start at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide just a few weeks ago, Woods ranked first in several ball-striking categories at Muirfield Village including Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (+14.157); Strokes Gained: Approach the Green (+11.164) and Proximity (23 feet, 8 inches). But he could only muster a tie for 23rd as his putting was abysmal. Woods was second-to-last in Strokes Gained: Putting (-7.695) at the Memorial, missing seven putts inside 5 feet and 15 putts inside 10 feet. “I worked on it pretty hard this past week. Just had to hit a lot of putts, just put in the legwork, and I was able to do that… my stroke feels good,â€� the 2000, 2002 and 2008 U.S. Open champion said. “What I did at Memorial, I just didn’t feel comfortable over it. I couldn’t see my lines. And those greens were quick, and I just didn’t feel comfortable and didn’t hit many good putts. I hit a lot of bad ones. “This is a different week, different setup, different grass. This is what I basically grew up on out there on the West Coast. Poa gets bumpy, and it requires a lot of patience. A lot of times you can hit great putts on poa, and it doesn’t go in. The key is to hit putts solid and see what happens.â€� Grading Woods’ comeback has been a tough assignment. A year ago there was a good chance he’d never play competitive golf again after four back surgeries, including a fusion. So on that measure just teeing it up is a success. But in his nine PGA TOUR starts this season he’s produced six top-25 finishes and two top-10s. On both the latter occasions he was in contention to win but didn’t close the deal. By that measure, he has let a few chances slip. “There’s two ways of looking at that. I’ve given myself chances to win, which I didn’t know if I was ever going to do again, and, also, then again, not happy with the fact that I didn’t win because I loved how it felt being there,â€� Woods explained. “I’ve had my opportunities. But also, I’m very thankful to have had those opportunities. I didn’t know if I was going to have them again. “Golf is always frustrating. There’s always something that isn’t quite right, and that’s where we, as players, have to make adjustments. “You’ve seen the tournaments I’ve played in this year. There’s always something. Hopefully, this is one of those weeks where I put it all together and even it out, and we’ll see what happens.â€� Woods played in the 1995 and 2004 U.S. Open’s held at Shinnecock. He withdrew in the second round of 1995 as a 19-year-old amateur after injuring his wrist in the long rough and tied for 17th in 2004.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. - The rain was falling softly in the semi-darkness as Tiger Woods stood on the practice putting green awaiting his 7:55 a.m. tee time, while legends Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player were on the nearby first tee preparing to hit their ceremonial first tee shots. Woods sensed something flying over his head. He looked up. "There was a drone flying over the putting green," he said after shooting a 4-under 68 in which he didn't make a bogey, his first bogey-free round here since 2008. "Down one today you could hear the drone over there. You don't hear drones here." Yes, CBS has added drones to the coverage. It was, all in all, a new kind of experience in the first round of the pandemic-delayed Masters at Augusta National. No patrons. No flowers. Strange plot twists. RELATED: Leaderboard | Like ‘old' times at Augusta | DeChambeau bounces back from calamity Paul Casey shot a 7-under 65 to take the early lead, although half the field didn't finish. At 5 under through 10 holes, Justin Thomas had the best round going among the late starters. "I’ve got a lot of golf left," said Thomas, whose best finish in four Masters starts was his T12 last year. "Just go home and get some rest. It’s a long day tomorrow." The rain-delayed first round was suspended for darkness with 44 players, roughly half the field, still out on the course at 5:30 p.m. They'll restart at 7:30 a.m., with round two set to begin at 9:35 a.m. Friday, if all goes according to plan. The way things have gone, that's a big if. Indeed, Thursday was an odd one. Bryson DeChambeau, the most talked about player in golf, double-bogeyed the short par-5 13th hole, the most vulnerable hole on the course, and shot 70, the same score as Larry Mize, 62. Woods began his round at the 10th hole at 10:55. He'd never started a Masters on 10, but then there's never been a November Masters, with daylight a precious commodity. Another difference: no blooming azaleas, or much of anything else. It's just too late in the year. The course does, however, have more Bermuda grass in it than normal, causing the ball to react differently. And it was humid Thursday, like East Lake in September, Casey said. Tony Finau, one of his playing partners, spun his approach shot into the bunker at the first hole. "On a good-looking wedge shot," Casey said. Woods said putts just weren't breaking. Casey said the greens were softer than ever. "There was a shot I hit on number two, a 6-iron to that left hand pin that you can’t hit that shot in April," said Casey, who eagled the hole. "It was just left of the flag. It pitched and stopped instantly, and that shot in April would have one hopped over into the patrons, and probably would have walked off with a 5 instead of a 3." A first-time Masters participant this week could return in April only to find a totally transformed, much firmer and faster course. "They are going to have a rude awakening," Casey said with a laugh. Still, he added, there remained something special about just being here, even with the quirks. Woods agreed. "There’s no patrons, no roars," he said. "Yes, as the camera guys would say, ‘Where did the ball end up? Because we just don’t know.' That’s very different. A lot of firsts today. That’s kind of the way this entire year has been. The fact that we’re able to compete for a Masters this year, considering all that’s been going on, it’s a great opportunity for all of us."

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