Golf-Open-Two double bogeys for struggling Tiger at U.S. Open

MAMARONECK, New York, June 16 (Reuters) Early morning conditions offered no solace to Tiger Woods at the US Open today and the world number one soared to 10 over par after a pair of double bogeys early in his second round.

The world number one, playing his first tournament in nine weeks following the death of his father, parred his first four holes before registering double bogeys on the par-four 14th and par-four 16th holes to put himself in danger of missing the cut.

Woods shot a six-over 76 in the first round at Winged Foot.

Tied for first place in the early going was overnight leader Colin Montgomerie of Britain and American Steve Stricker, who finished his first nine on Friday with a birdie at the 18th to match the Scotsman at one under par.

Stricker began the warm, sunny day at Winged Foot in a five-way tie for second after his opening even-par 70.

Montgomerie was teeing off at 1:58 p.m. (2328 hrs IST), 23 minutes after Phil Mickelson, the Masters and PGA champion who was among the group at even par after the first 18 holes.

Conditions were difficult in yesterday's opening round and were expected to get even tougher today with the narrow fairways firming up and the small, heavily contoured greens drying out and becoming less receptive to approach shots.

Twenty-two players carded 80 or worse and the first-round scoring average was the highest at a US Open since the 77.8 at Shinnecock Hills in 1986.

Briton David Howell, who shot 70 yesterday, bogeyed his first hole, the 10th, to slide back to one over par. Among the group sharing that total were former major winners Vijay Singh and Mike Weir.

Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain saw his even-par total after the first round swell to two over after bogeys on the second and third hole.

In the early going, 17 double bogeys had been registered along with 131 bogeys against just 58 birdies on the longest US Open layout ever at 7,264 yards.

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