Tiger Woods enters ‘very different world' at Muirfield Village

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Justin Rose played alongside Tiger Woods, and then joined him in the U.S. Open record book at Pebble Beach. Rose birdied his last three holes Thursday for a 6-under 65, giving him a one-shot lead on a day so accommodating that more than three dozen players broke par. It was an ideal start for Rose and for the USGA, which wants a smooth ride after four years of various mishaps in the U.S. Open. The idea was to start safe and make the course progressively more difficult, and a forecast of dry weather for the week should make that easier to control. This was the day to take advantage, especially with a cool, overcast sky for most of the day. Rose knew what was at stake when he blasted out of a bunker short of the par-5 18th to about 12 feet. He was watching the telecast earlier when Rickie Fowler had a birdie putt for a 65 to tie the lowest U.S. Open round at Pebble Beach, set by Woods in the first round of his record-setting victory in 2000. “I was thinking, ‘This would be kind of cool doing it front of the great man himself,'” Rose said. He lightly pumped his fist, partly for the record, mainly for the best start. Fowler had to settle for a 66, tied with Aaron Wise and two others who had big finishes. Xander Schauffele caught a break when his tee shot on the 18th caromed off the rock edge of the left fairway, setting up a 12-foot eagle. Louis Oosthuizen finished on No. 9 by holing a bunker shot for a birdie. It felt almost as good as the wedge he holed from 95 yards for eagle on No. 11. Woods took advantage of the scoring holes with three birdies, but there was one blunder — a tee shot he hooked on the par-3 fifth that smacked off the cart path into gnarly, deep grass some 20 yards behind the edge of the bleachers. He blasted that out beyond the green and made double bogey. After two straight birdies, he finished with 11 straight pars for a 70. “Pebble Beach, you have the first seven to get it going, and after that it’s a fight,” Woods said. “I proved that today. I was trying to just hang in there today. Rosey proved the golf course could be had.” Two-time defending champion Brooks Koepka proved the opening holes could be had. He was 4 under with his birdie on the par-5 sixth hole and appeared to be on another major mission until a few errant tee shots into nasty rough, a few missed putts and a few bogeys. Even so, he had few complaints about his 69 to begin his bid for a record-tying third straight U.S. Open. “I didn’t shoot myself out of it,” Koepka said. “I’m right there. I feel like if I get off tomorrow to a good start, I’m right back into it.” Phil Mickelson, in another U.S. Open quest to complete the career Grand Slam, didn’t feel he was out of it either, despite only two birdies in his round of 1-over 72, which included a 22-inch par putt that he missed. Woods also had a one-shot lead when he had his opening 65 in 2000, a lead he stretched to six shots after the second round, 10 shots after the third and 15 shots at the end, a record for major championships. But only 17 players were under par in the first round of 2000. For this U.S. Open, in these relatively soft conditions, 39 players broke par. Perhaps more telling about the course, and depth of talent compared with two decades ago, there were 17 eagles. That’s the most for any round at any U.S. Open, breaking the record of 13 set in 1983 at Oakmont. The eagles included Callum Tarren holing out from a bunker on No. 10, the hardest hole at Pebble Beach, and Rory Sabbatini making a hole-in-one on No. 12. No one was expecting a breeze the rest of the week. “It’s a very soft start to a U.S. Open, which is a good thing,” Rory McIlroy said after a 68, his first sub-70 round at the U.S. Open since he won at Congressional in 2011. “They can do whatever they want with from here. It’s not as if you’re starting with a course that’s in the condition like a Sunday, and then you get three days and it sort of starts to get away from you.” Scott Piercy, who bogeyed the 18th for a 67, was the first player to get everyone’s attention when he was at 5 under through six holes. Graeme McDowell saw the score when he walked off the 10th green at the start of his round and quipped to his caddie, “All the USGA radios are going off and they’re saying, `Turn off the water — NOW!'” McDowell won the last U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in 2010 when it was so difficult he made only one birdie in the final round and no one broke par for the week. Even as he saw low scores on the board — he had a bogey-free 69, one of 27 rounds in the 60s — McDowell feared what was to come for those falling into a comfort zone. “Careful what you wish for, because I think we’re going to see it come the weekend,” McDowell said. “I don’t think level par wins this week,” he said. “Careful what you wish for, because I think we’re going to see it come the weekend.” For one day, Pebble Beach was paradise. “I wouldn’t say it’s exhilarating, because I feel like my mindset is I am in a 72-hole tournament,” Rose said. “This is just a very small step toward outcome. So you don’t feel that buzz that you would on a Sunday, but you can’t help but look around over your shoulder and … this is Pebble Beach. Shot 65 and you’re in the U.S. Open. It’s a cool moment. Whatever transpires the rest of the week, it was a cool moment.”

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2017-18 Priority Ranking (as of 11/20/2017) 1. Winner of PGA Championship or U.S. Open prior to 1970 or in the last five seasons and the current season: Jack Burke, Jr. Jason Day Jason Dufner Dow Finsterwald Raymond Floyd Doug Ford Al Geiberger Don January Dustin Johnson Martin Kaymer Brooks Koepka Gene Littler Rory McIlroy Bobby Nichols Jack Nicklaus Gary Player Justin Rose Jordan Spieth Justin Thomas Lee Trevino Jimmy Walker 2. Winner of THE PLAYERS Championship in the last five seasons and the current season: Rickie Fowler Si Woo Kim Tiger Woods 3. Winners of the Masters Tournament in the last five seasons and the current season: Sergio Garcia Adam Scott Bubba Watson 4. Winners of The Open Championship in the last five seasons and the current season: Zach Johnson Phil Mickelson Henrik Stenson 5. Winners of THE TOUR Championship in the last three seasons and the current season: Xander Schauffele 6. Winners of World Golf Championships events in the last three seasons and the current season: Russell Knox Shane Lowry Hideki Matsuyama 6a. Winners of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Memorial Tournament in the last three seasons and the current season, beginning with the 2015 winners. Matt Every Marc Leishman David Lingmerth William McGirt 7. Leader from the final FedExCup points list in each of the last five seasons: Billy Horschel 8. Leader from the final PGA TOUR money list 2013-2016: 9. Winners of PGA TOUR co-sponsored or approved tournaments, whose victories are considered official, within the last two seasons, or during the current season; winners receive an additional season of exemption for each additional win, up to five seasons: Ryan Armour Aaron Baddeley Daniel Berger Jonas Blixt Wesley Bryan Patrick Cantlay Greg Chalmers Kevin Chappell Austin Cook Bryson DeChambeau Tony Finau Fabián Gómez Branden Grace Cody Gribble Emiliano Grillo Adam Hadwin James Hahn Brian Harman Russell Henley Jim Herman Charley Hoffman Mac Hughes Billy Hurley III Smylie Kaufman Chris Kirk Kevin Kisner Patton Kizzire Matt Kuchar Peter Malnati Graeme McDowell Ryan Moore Grayson Murray Rod Pampling Pat Perez D.A. Points Jon Rahm Patrick Reed Charl Schwartzel Webb Simpson Cameron Smith Brandt Snedeker Kyle Stanley Brendan Steele Chris Stroud Brian Stuard Hudson Swafford Vaughn Taylor Jhonattan Vegas 11a. Players among the top 50 in career earnings as of the end of the preceding season may elect to use a one-time exemption for the next season: Tim Clark Retief Goosen Bo Van Pelt 11b. Players among the Top 25 in career earnings as of the end of the preceding season may elect to use this special one-time exemption for the next season. K.J. Choi Ernie Els 12. Sponsor exemptions (a maximum of eight, which may include amateurs with handicaps of 0 or less), on the following basis: A. Not less than two sponsor invitees shall be PGA TOUR members not otherwise exempt. B. Not less than two of the 2017 Top Finishers of the Web.com Tour, if not all can otherwise be accommodated. NOTE: PGA TOUR members may receive an unlimited number of sponsor invitations. Non-TOUR members may receive a maximum of seven per year. 13. Two international players designated by the Commissioner. 14. The current PGA Club Professional Champion up to 6 open events (3 must be opposite The Open Championship and World Golf Championships events), in addition to any sponsor selections. The exemption does not apply to open, limited-field events. Omar Uresti 15. PGA Section Champion or Player of the Year of the Section in which the tournament is played. 16. Four low scorers at Open Qualifying which shall normally be held on Monday of tournament week. 17. Past champions of the particular event being contested that week, if cosponsored by the PGA TOUR and the same tournament sponsor, as follows: A. Winners prior to July 28, 1970: unlimited exemptions for such events. B. Winners after Jan. 1, 2000: five seasons of exemptions for such events. 18. Life Members (who have been active members of the PGA TOUR for 15 years and have won at least 20 co-sponsored events). Davis Love III Vijay Singh 19. Top 125 on the previous season’s FedExCup points list. Paul Casey Gary Woodland Louis Oosthuizen Bill Haas Francesco Molinari Chez Reavie Charles Howell III Lucas Glover Kevin Na Keegan Bradley Luke List Anirban Lahiri Ian Poulter Stewart Cink Scott Brown Martin Laird Jamie Lovemark Sung Kang Ollie Schniederjans Rafa Cabrera Bello Sean O’Hair Robert Streb Bud Cauley Kevin Tway Danny Lee Kelly Kraft Graham DeLaet Jason Kokrak Patrick Rodgers Morgan Hoffmann Chad Campbell Kevin Streelman C.T. Pan Whee Kim Harold Varner III Nick Taylor J.B. Holmes Camilo Villegas J.J. Spaun Scott Piercy Michael Kim Scott Stallings Byeong Hun An Martin Flores Luke Donald Richy Werenski Ryan Blaum Geoff Ogilvy Robert Garrigus Seung-Yul Noh Brian Gay Brandon Hagy Steve Stricker Derek Fathauer Tyrone Van Aswegen Harris English Dominic Bozzelli Nick Watney John Huh Blayne Barber Ben Martin Rory Sabbatini J.J. Henry 21. Players who finished greater than or equal to top 125 on the 2016-17 PGA TOUR Official Season FedExCup Points List through the Wyndham Championship as non-members: Thomas Pieters Tommy Fleetwood Tyrrell Hatton Alex Noren Ross Fisher 22. Major Medical Extension: If granted by the Commissioner, if not otherwise eligible, and if needed to fill the field, Special Medical Extension. Ryan Palmer Kevin Stadler John Senden Sangmoon Bae Freddie Jacobson Jon Curran Bob Estes Chris Couch Briny Baird Colt Knost Steve Marino Harrison Frazar Charlie Beljan John Peterson Andrew Loupe 23. Leading Money Winner from the previous season’s Top 25 regular season players using combined money earned on the Official Web.com Tour Regular Season Money List and Web.com Tour Finals Money List. Leading Money Winner from the previous season’s Web.com Tour Finals and Three-Time Winners from previous season Web.com Tour. Chesson Hadley 24. Leading money winner from Web.com Tour medical 25. Top 10 and ties, not otherwise exempt, among professionals from the previous open tournament whose victory has official status are exempt into the next open tournament whose victory has official status. 26. Top Finishers of the Web.com Tour: Finishers 2-25 from the previous season’s Top 25 Web.com Tour Regular season players using combined money earned on the Web.com Tour Regular Season Money List and money earned in the Web.com Tour Finals and the top 25 players and ties on the Web.com Tour Finals Money List at the conclusion of the Finals who are not already exempt. Cejka, Alex Landry, Andrew Uihlein, Peter Duncan, Tyler Harkins, Brandon Silverman, Ben Hossler, Beau Hoge, Tom Piller, Martin Lindheim, Nicholas Randolph, Jonathan Garnett, Brice Wise, Aaron Ancer, Abraham Jaeger, Stephan Gooch, Talor Potter, Jr., Ted Stefani, Shawn Zhang, Xinjun Schenk, Adam Dahmen, Joel Oppenheim, Rob Thompson, Michael Conners, Corey Burgoon, Bronson Tringale, Cameron Tracy, Ethan Power, Seamus Díaz, Roberto Lovelady, Tom Putnam, Andrew Stegmaier, Brett Jones, Matt Merritt, Troy Shindler, Conrad Mitchell, Keith Lashley, Nate Wheatcroft, Steve Saunders, Sam Ryder, Sam Byrd, Jonathan Griffin, Lanto Dou, Zecheng McCarthy, Denny Atkins, Matt Thompson, Kyle Yun, Andrew Collins, Chad Blanks, Kris Claxton, Will MacKenzie, Will Williams, Lee Bertsch, Shane Berganio, Jr., David Sucher, Zack Note: Reordered after the conclusion of The RSM Classic and the Genesis Open; thereafter, Mondays of the Masters, THE PLAYERS Championship, U.S. Open and The Open Championship. 27. Top Finishers from the Web.com Tour medical: NOTE: This category will be reordered with the above category #26. 28. Players winning three Web.com Tour events in the current season: 29. Minor medical extension: Padraig Harrington Andrew Johnston 30. Twenty-five finishers beyond 125th place on prior season’s FedExCup points list (126-150): Poston, J.T. Wagner, Johnson Hearn, David Blair, Zac Mullinax, Trey Barnes, Ricky Crane, Ben Percy, Cameron Summerhays, Daniel Lamb, Rick Owen, Greg Kjeldsen, Søren Note: Reordered after the conclusion of The RSM Classic and the Genesis Open; thereafter, Mondays of the Masters, THE PLAYERS Championship, U.S. Open and The Open Championship. 31. Nonexempt, major medical/family crisis: NOTE: This category will be reordered with the above category #30. 32. Reorder Categories 33-37 Mahan, Hunter Davis, Brian Cabrera, Ã�ngel Axley, Eric Ernst, Derek Duke, Ken McNeill, George de Jonge, Brendon Herron, Tim Appleby, Stuart Daly, John Rollins, John Note: Categories 33-37 Reordered after the conclusion of The RSM Classic and the Genesis Open; thereafter, Mondays of the Masters, THE PLAYERS Championship, U.S. Open and The Open Championship. 33. Past Champions, Team Tournament Winners and Veteran Members Beyond 150 on the FedExCup Points List: If not otherwise eligible and as needed to fill the field, Past Champion members, Team Tournament Winners and Veteran members beyond 150th place on the previous season’s FedExCup points list in order of their combined official PGA TOUR and Web.com Tour earnings in the previous season. Furyk, Jim Weekley, Boo Gore, Jason Lunde, Bill Molder, Bryce Romero, Andres Pride, Dicky Bohn, Jason Pettersson, Carl Couples, Fred Wilson, Mark Merrick, John Allenby, Robert Yang, Y.E. Wi, Charlie Kelly, Jerry Barlow, Craig Atwal, Arjun Gainey, Tommy Chopra, Daniel Johnson, Richard Mize, Larry Bowditch, Steven Lonard, Peter Trahan, D.J. Hensby, Mark Todd, Brendon McLachlin, Parker Leonard, Justin Bradley, Michael Micheel, Shaun Matteson, Troy Funk, Fred Toms, David Petrovic, Tim Turnesa, Marc Smith, Chris Overton, Jeff Hart, Dudley Kaye, Jonathan Mattiace, Len Gamez, Robert 34. Past Champion Members: If not otherwise eligible and if needed to fill the field, Past Champion members, in order of the total number of cosponsored or approved events won, excluding Team events. If two or more players are tied, the player who is higher on the PGA TOUR Career Money List shall be eligible. 35. Special Temporary Members: If during the course of a PGA TOUR season, a nonmember of the PGA TOUR wins an amount of points (e.g., by playing in PGA TOUR events through sponsor exemptions, Open Qualifying, etc.) equal to the amount won in the preceding season by the 150th finisher on the FedExCup points list, he will be eligible to become a special temporary member for the remainder of the season. 36. Team Tournament Winners: If not otherwise eligible and if needed to fill the field, winners of co-sponsored team championships, in order of the total number of team championship tournaments won. If two or more players are tied based on the number of such tournaments won, the player who is higher on the official PGA TOUR Career Money List shall be eligible. 37. Veteran Members: If not otherwise eligible and if needed to fill the field, Veteran members (players who have made a minimum of 150 cuts during their career), in order of their standing on the PGA TOUR Career Money List.

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