British Open 2012 Leaderboard: Tiger Woods in Position for Fourth British Title

Tiger Woods has won the British Open three other times in his decorated career, at St. Andrews in 2000 and '05 and Royal Liverpool in '06. In each of his three wins across the pond, Woods shot an opening-round score of under 70. 

Thursday at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, Woods accomplished that first step again, hitting a three-under 67 that should put him in position to compete for his 15th major championship and the first since Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open. 

Woods hit opening rounds of 67 and 66, respectively, when he won twice at St. Andrews, and later hit a 67 to begin the British Open in '06. 

Woods came out of the gates firing Thursday, making birdies on four of the first seven holes and briefly holding the lead. He ended his first nine with a four-under 30, before cooling off on the back-nine when his putter began to fail him. 

The first nine was vintage Woods. 

His first shot at the par-3 first hole set up a makeable birdie putt, and Woods found the bottom of the cup to start the round one under. Birdies then came on back-to-back par 4's at the fourth and sixth, with the final birdie coming on the par-5 seventh. 

The one blemish on Woods' card came on the par-4 15th, when he missed a fairway for the first time in the round and eventually paid for it. It took Woods two shots to escape the deep rough, but he made two good short shots to save for a bogey.

While the 67 was impressive, Woods' score needs to be taken with a grain of salt. With favorable conditions early, golfers were finding red scores throughout the opening round. Adam Scott shot a six-under 64 to lead the field, and at least 23 golfers (at the time of writing) were under par for the first round. 

Contrary to conditions usually found on a links course, Thursday at Royal Lytham & St. Annes saw little wind and precipitation. 

Woods described the course as "soft," according to ESPN. 

"

It was pretty soft. The wind wasn't blowing, and we're backing golf balls up. That's something we just don't see. On the first hole is a perfect indication; I hit a 5 iron straight at it, and it rolled out 8 feet. I can't remember the last time it does that on links golf course.

"

Putting was one aspect that kept Woods from being in the same stratosphere as Scott. Woods needed 30 putts Thursday, which is a number he'll likely need to trim if he's to win his fourth British Open. 

On several putts—at least three to my eye—Woods came up short when a harder, more firm putt likely would have found the bottom. 

Woods was pleased with his putting, according to the same linked ESPN report. 

"

I felt like I played well today. I really hit it well. And as I said, I was very close on making a few more putts. Every ball was starting right on my line. I was very pleased with that. I've just got to hit the putts a little harder.

"

A first round certainly doesn't guarantee a golfer anything for the rest of the week, and that's even more true with unforgiving roughs and bunkers at the British Open and conditions that are likely to turn more unfavorable as the week progresses.  

But Woods has to be happy with an opening-round 67, and being three back from the current leaders sets him up perfect for the rest of the week. If the putter comes along with the rest of the game starting Friday, Woods will be right there in contention for a fourth British Open title.

2012 British Open Leaderboard (current as of Thursday at 1:00 p.m. ET)

Player	Score
Adam Scott	-6
Paul Lawrie	-5
Zach Johnson	-5
Nicolas Colsaerts	-5
Ernie Els	-3
Bubba Watson	-3
Graeme McDowell	-3
Tiger Woods	-3
Rory McIlroy	-3
Toshinori Muto	-3