Putter plagues Woods, McDowell shares lead

By Larry Fine
FARMINGDALE, New York (Reuters) - Tiger Woods missed two short putts in the finishing stretch in completing a four-over 74 that left him five shots off the pace among early first-round finishers at the weather-delayed U.S. Open on Friday.
Briton Graeme McDowell and amateur Drew Weaver, 22, were in the clubhouse on one-under-par 69 with several other players one-under on the course after the resumption of Thursday's washed out opening round at Bethpage Black.
McDowell was one-over through seven holes Thursday after starting from the 10th. The Northern Irishman returned to birdie the par-three 17th, the par-four second and par-five fourth before dropping a stroke with a bogey at the sixth.
"Coming back this morning we were unbelievably surprised at how good the ground staff had prepared the course," he told reporters about a layout submerged by 1.5 inches of rain.
Weaver, who was two over par after playing 10 holes Thursday, made three birdies on his way in to match McDowell.
World number two Phil Mickelson had just teed off as the second wave of the first round were setting off at Bethpage.
Once those players finish their opening round, they will go back out after a short break to begin their second rounds. The earlier starters were done for the day.
WOODS'S FINISH
Woods dipped to two-over when he missed an eight-foot par putt with his first stroke after play resumed for the 78 golfers on the course in Thursday's morning wave when heavy, persistent rain halted the action.
The world number one hauled himself back to level par with a tap-in birdie at 11, where his approach shot nearly hopped in the hole for eagle, and another at the 14th.
A drive into the rough started his troubles at 15 which culminated in double-bogey after he lipped out a three-footer. He missed a four-foot par putt at the 16th and then bogeyed 18 after missing an eight-foot putt for par after a poor chip.
"Overall the golf course was playing a little more difficult today," Woods said. "I had a mud ball three times.
"I was even par with four to go and I was right there where I needed to be. Two bad shots and a mud ball later and here we go on four over par."
(Editing by Kevin Fylan)

Source: Reuters