Woods in good shape at US Open

San Diego: The US Open week arrived at Torrey Pines on Monday, when Tiger Woods had to share the city-owned course with fellow competitors and a gallery that grew at every hole.

If anyone didn’t realise that Woods had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee two days after the Masters, they wouldn’t have known by the way he played the South Course’s front nine in a practice round.

"He didn’t say ‘Ow’ to me, so it must be good," cracked Bubba Watson, who played with Woods and amateur Jordan Cox from Stanford. The threesome teed off at about 7 am under an overcast sky and with no wind coming off the Pacific Ocean.

Woods pulled out after nine holes, spent some time on the putting green and then walked toward the Lodge at Torrey Pines at about 10:15 am, accompanied by two San Diego policemen, caddie Steve Williams and swing coach Hank Haney.

On Wednesday, Woods played his first round of golf since his knee surgery, getting in 17-plus holes riding in a cart. He played in solitude that day amid tight security, with no media or spectators allowed on the course. On Monday, Woods scrambled in and out of bunkers and crushed some drives. He didn’t appear to favour his knee. — AP