Tiger Woods Bounces Back from Slow Start, Shoots 69 in 4th Round at 2019 US Open

Featured ColumnistJune 16, 2019

PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 16: Tiger Woods of the United States plays a shot from the fifth tee during the final round of the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on June 16, 2019 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Tiger Woods had a strong finish at the 2019 U.S. Open but was still far down the leaderboard after an adventurous final round at Pebble Beach, California.

The superstar was as many as four shots over par in Round 4 but ended up with a 69 on Sunday, putting him two strokes under par for the tournament. This was good enough to finish in a tie for 21st place.

He hasn't finished inside the top 20 at a U.S. Open since 2010.

Woods had been inconsistent throughout the week, but he had a shot to get into the top 10 with a strong final round and some help from others. Carding six birdies would've given him a chance if he hadn't also totaled four bogeys in a wild day.

The 43-year-old looked like a different golfer at the beginning of his round compared to the end of it.

Woods had a nightmare start, bogeying four of his first six holes. He struggled with seemingly every club in his bag, leaving himself short on several approach shots that gave him no chance at birdie and difficult shots for par.

When he was four over for the day and the tournament, he looked physically and emotionally drained:

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Bob Harig @BobHarig
4 bogeys in 6 holes including a par-5 for #Tiger. The body language looks poor and it's quite likely the body isn't feeling so good either. #USOpen

David Aldridge @davidaldridgedc
@GCTigerTracker T-squared, know there will be days like this, but hard to watch him struggling physically.

Carson Cunningham @KOCOCarson
Tiger is fighting every urge to WD.

However, he completely rebounded from there and turned what could've been a miserable round into an impressive 18 holes.

Woods fought his way back with two straight birdies on Nos. 7 and 8, with quality approach shots finally putting him close to the hole:

U.S. Open (USGA) @usopengolf
Still grinding. After a rough start, Tiger bounces back with a birdie at 7. #USOpen https://t.co/dTtnnamgMe

U.S. Open (USGA) @usopengolf
We see you Tiger 👀 Back-to-back birdies! #USOpen https://t.co/oghBnuhda5

After a string of pars, he came through with arguably his best shot of the tournament with a 40-foot putt for birdie on the 13th:

PGA TOUR @PGATOUR
40 feet from @TigerWoods. Count it. 🐦 https://t.co/Fl77PRmuF4

He followed it up with two more birdies on Nos. 14 and 16, going up-and-down from over 100 yards away on each hole.

One last birdie on No. 18 put him two under for the round and resulted in a number we haven't seen in years:

Justin Ray @JustinRayGolf
Tiger plays his last 6 holes in 4-under to shoot 69, his lowest final round score in the U.S. Open in ten years.

Consistency will be key going forward, but he again showed he is capable of greatness when things are going well. Whether something clicked after the sixth hole or he just realized the pressure was off him, he needs to find that mentality.

Woods will take some time to rest up before The Open Championship, the final major of the year that starts July 18. He could compete in the Rocket Mortgage Classic and/or the 3M Open over the next month, but expectations will probably be low following his quiet showing at Pebble Beach.