Tiger Woods has a day to forget in Pennsylvania

Out of swing: Tiger Woods tries to get out of a bunker at the AT&T National, where he dropped four shots in the last five holes
13 April 2012

Tiger Woods is refusing to panic after dreadful putting at the close of his first round saw him finish seven shots off the lead at the AT&T National in Pennsylvania.

The world No1 dropped four shots over the last five holes to leave himself with plenty to do just to make the cut at the Aronimink Golf Club today.

There are only two weeks to go until The Open at St Andrews and Woods has yet to win in five events since his return to golf in April.

But despite that and his shocking putting yesterday, Woods is taking solace from his driving, which was spot on for much of his first round.

"I just putted awful," said the 34‑year-old, who finished with a three-over-par 73. "It was a frustrating day on the greens, considering how well I was driving. My speed was good but I never hit the ball on line. Even when I hit my putts on the exact line I wanted, they still didn't go in.

"If I keep driving the ball like this, I'll be fine. I hit what I thought were two bad drives and both of them landed in the fairway and just ran into the rough."

While Woods struggled his practice partner Arjun Atwal was on song with his 66 earning him a share of the lead alongside Australian Jason Day and American pair Nick Watney and Joe Ogilvie.

Asked what he has learned from Woods, Indian Atwal replied: "Just everything. Just the whole work ethic to how a person who has won 71 times still works harder than any person out here when he's home."

The quartet finished a shot ahead of Sweden's Carl Pettersson and Americans John Mallinger, Brian Gay, Michael Letzig, Brett Quigley and Ryan Moore. Britain's Justin Rose and Greg Owen carded 69s to tie for 19th place.

Meanwhile, Lee Westwood wasted his good early work at the French Open in Paris today. The world No3, who almost missed the event after it was feared he had suffered a blood clot, started the day on one under — seven behind overnight leader, Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen.

Westwood made a hat-trick of birdies from the 14th after starting at the 10th but bogeyed the difficult 17th for the second day running and then had a double bogey five on the short second.

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