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GULLANE -- By the time Tiger Woods finally made his way up to the 18th green, the bleachers were half empty and long shadows crept across the fairway. If Woods needed to be reminded how long this day was, the clock on the giant yellow scoreboard read 7:37 p.m. -- more than five hours after he teed off. The major championships are usually grinds, but for anyone playing in the afternoon Thursday the first round of the British Open proved more of a test than ever. The wind was blowing harder than expected, the golf course was drying up by the minute, and anything around par was a score to be respected. And there was Woods, feeling awfully good about a 2-under 69 that had to give him hope his five-year drought in the major championships might come to an end this week on a golf course playing like it is in the middle of a drought. "It was tough," Woods said. "The golf course progressively got more dried out and more difficult as we played. Im very pleased to shoot anything even par or better." A day that began with a near catastrophe off the first tee ended with a six-footer that found the centre of the cup on the 18th green. Hardly surprising since Woods had 10 one-putts as he scrambled his way around the links course for one of the better scores of the afternoon. He was three shots off the lead set by Zach Johnson, who was part of a morning surge of players who took advantage of easier conditions to set the pace. More importantly, perhaps, Woods has a morning tee time of his own Friday on a course that at least for the first day was set up to favour the early players. "The guys that played early had a huge, huge break," Phil Mickelson said after shooting a 69 himself in the morning. "Because even without any wind, its beyond difficult." That Woods managed to break 70 in the afternoon was impressive enough. That he did it after nearly snap hooking a 3-wood out of bounds on his opening tee shot and having to take an unplayable when the ball nestled in a deep clump of unruly grass was doubly so. "When I got over that tee shot I was (thinking), if I hammer it, this 3-wood is in that bunker," Woods said. "So maybe I should take something off it. Maybe I should hit 5-wood. Hence I hit a flip hook left and there she goes." Woods somehow managed to make a bogey five on the first hole even with a penalty shot by hitting his third into a greenside bunker and getting up-and-down. It set the pattern for a day of one-putts that not only prevented the round from getting away from him, but put him in prime position going into the second round. "Were supposed to get a different wind tomorrow," Woods said. "It will be interesting to see what the course setup is." Just how tough was Muirfield in the afternoon? So tough that the threesome Woods was playing in became a twosome when former champion Louis Oosthuizen withdrew on the ninth hole with an apparent injury after going 4-over-par through eight holes. So tough that his other playing partner, Graeme McDowell made two double bogeys and shot a 75 despite feeling he played well. So tough that Woods was 1-over at the turn before one-putting the next four holes to spark a 3-under 32 on the back nine. "Tiger played phenomenally well for his 2-under par," McDowell said. "Really ground it out well, did what he did best." Playing well early in majors hasnt been the issue for Woods in recent times, though. Closing it out on the weekend has been, the main reason why hes still stuck at 14 major championships and hasnt won one since beating Rocco Mediate on one leg in the 2008 U.S. Open. Last year he opened the British with a pair of 67s only to fade to a tie for third place behind Ernie Els. This year he was in the mix at the U.S. Open before shooting 76-74 on the weekend. He came here well rested and healed up from a strained elbow that was acting up at the U.S. Open, his last competitive event. He also came with the knowledge gained from years of playing links style golf on this side of the pond, including his two wins at St. Andrews and his other win at Hoylake near Liverpool. "Theyre so different, so different," Woods said. "I mean, this is almost -- its about as fast as Hoylake was. But theres knee-high rough here. And plus this golf course changes directions a lot. This is a totally different setup." Not so different, though, that Woods doesnt like his chances of winning a fourth claret jug. Yeezy Boost 350 Günstig . Francis told several hundred members of the European Olympic Committees that when sport "is considered only in economic terms and consequently for victory at every cost . Adidas Superstar Schweiz Günstig . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. http://www.yeezyschweizkaufen.com/lite-racer-schweiz-outlet.html .C. United of Major League Soccer. United chose the defender in the second round of the 2013 MLS re-entry draft. [url=,http://www.yeezyschweizkaufen.com/lite-r...eiz-outlet.html]Adidas Neo Outlet[/url] . LOUIS -- Mike Smith is used to facing plenty of shots, so this was nothing new. Superstar Schuhe Günstig . Vokoun departed practice on Saturday morning after discovering swelling in his thigh. He was taken to a local hospital where the clot was revealed. The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia freshman Jacob Eason is proving he can be trusted in the closing minutes.In fact, the young quarterbacks best play has come in high-pressure situations late in games, providing confidence that will be needed in Saturdays visit from No. 8 Auburn.Coach Kirby Smart said Eason showed impressive poise when he led the Bulldogs to a last-second 27-24 win at Kentucky last week. Eason completed each of his four passes on the game-winning drive that began with less than three minutes remaining. Georgia won on Rodrigo Blankenships 25-yard field goal as time expired.Following the game, Smart said Eason does not feel pressure. Thats just the kid. He has a very calm demeanor, which is what you want a quarterback to have.Easons first late game-winning drive came at Missouri early in the season. He also threw a go-ahead 47-yard touchdown pass to Riley Ridley with only 10 seconds remaining against Tennessee. That dramatic pass became a footnote when the Vols won the game with a Hail Mary pass.Hes a kid that the more he plays in a game, I think the more confident he gets, Smart said Monday.Georgia (5-4, 3-4 Southeastern Conference) had lost four of five, including two straight, before the win at Kentucky. Auburn (7-2, 5-1, No. 9 CFP) will be playing to preserve its SEC championship hopes and shot at making the playoffs.It hasnt been a smooth first season for Eason, who has started the last eight games.After winning the starting job from senior Greyson Lambert, Eason hasnt always played as well as in some late-game pressure situations. He has completed 145 of 272 passes for 1,754 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.Smart said Eason hhas got a long way to go.dddddddddddd.Hes got to improve, Smart said. Hes got to improve communication, decision making ... but I certainly think these opportunities at the end of the game give him a chance to show leadership and gain the confidence of the other players.Eason has not been made available to speak with reporters this season.Eason may have found a new favorite target. Javon Wims, a junior college transfer, set career highs with five catches for 90 yards against Kentucky. Wims (6-4, 215) gives Eason a tall and physical target. Wims showed his big-play potential on a 51-yard catch.Wims said he is developing a bond with Eason. He said they are just getting to know each other as friends and teammates.We both are very goofy guys, Wims said. The connection has been growing a lot stronger. Hes trusting me a lot more to make plays if he throws me the ball.Wims said last weeks game-winning drive was important for Eason.We are tremendously confident in Jacob, Wims said. He has been improving each and every week. Hes been practicing better and weve been developing better timing with him. Its going to boost his confidence going forward.Game notes Smart said S Kirby Choates, listed as the top backup to Dominick Sanders, is focusing on academics right now. Choates has missed the last four games. ... Smart said WR Jayson Stanley will miss the game with a foot injury. He said DT DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle is questionable after missing the Kentucky game with an ankle injury.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '