PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — The expression on Tiger Woods’ face when his U.S. Open second round was complete Friday at Pebble Beach told you exactly how his day went.
He wore a look of total disgust.
“Yeah, I’m a little hot right now,’’ Woods said. “I just signed my card about a minute ago, so need a little time to cool down a little bit.’’
Woods signed for a thoroughly aggravating 1-over 72, which left him at even-par for the tournament and nine shots out of the lead held by Gary Woodland.
Woods, who began his round on No. 10, threw away any chance at a decent day when he carded bogeys on Nos. 8 and 9, his final two holes of the day.
Asked afterward if he was “steaming,’’ Woods responded, “Yeah, I am. Not a very good finish.’’
Woods, who’s chasing his 82nd career victory and 16th major championship win after his Masters triumph in April, then looked ahead to the weekend and tried to put a positive spin on matters.
“Right now, I’m still in the ball game,’’ Woods said. “There’s so many guys with a chance to win. We’ve got a long way to go, and we’ll see how it shapes up for [Saturday]. The golf course can be a little bit faster, a little bit more springy than it was [Friday] and scores will continue to back up a little bit.’’
Woods said the USGA has the course “right where they want it,’’ adding, “It’s just a matter of how much will it dry out from morning to afternoon. The fairways were a bit slow and soft. I don’t think they put mowers on them this morning. And the short areas, the run-ups, man, they’re firm. So if they get the greens anywhere like that, it will be a hell of a test.’’
He said he squandered some chances to get on a run in Friday’s round.
“I had a couple opportunities there [and] I missed a couple,’’ Woods said. “But overall, I kept leaving myself above the hole. And unlike yesterday, when I missed it I missed the correct spots below the hole, [Friday], I never had that many looks from below the hole. And the one I did have, I made at 11 [for his only birdie of the round].
“It’s just a matter of leaving the ball in the right spots. [Thursday] I did that and [Friday] I didn’t. I was above the hole and I just wasn’t as crisp as I needed to be to put the ball below the hole each and every shot.’’
Rose, who played with Woods the first two days, said Woods’ game looked “close,’’ adding, “He just hasn’t found the next gear get to get some momentum.’’
