* Thompson the surprise leader after firing a 66
* Woods trails by three after first round at Olympic
(Updates after Woods cards a 69)
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
SAN FRANCISCO, June 14 (Reuters) – Tiger Woods moved
ominously into his favourite territory on Thursday, clawing his
way into contention with a one-under-par 69 in tough scoring
conditions to lie three shots off the early U.S. Open lead.
As the year’s second major lived up to its reputation as the
toughest championship of all, the former world number one mixed
three birdies with two bogeys to finish the opening round three
behind fellow American Michael Thompson at the Olympic Club.
“I played well today,” three-times champion Woods told
reporters. “I felt like I had control of my game all day and
just stuck to my game plan and executed my game plan.
“I made a couple changes out there because the wind had
shifted and the fairways were faster. We knew it was going to
get quick as the week progressed, but we didn’t think it was
going to happen overnight.”
The little known Thompson, who tied for 29th in his only
previous U.S. Open appearance in 2008, upstaged the game’s
biggest names by carding a seven-birdie 66 on the challenging,
hilly Lake Course.
Though Thompson bogeyed three of the first six holes – a
stretch widely regarded as the most difficult start in the
majors – he then surged up the leaderboard with six birdies in
bright sunshine to take control of the tournament.
Continued…
