The 46-year-old, who is recovering from a car accident in February 2021 in which he almost lost his right leg, started his journey with a double bogey from the N.1 hole.
He still chained bogeys on holes 3 and 4, then conceded a second double bogey on 7. In seven holes, he was at +6 and failed to improve his card on the next eleven holes.
The player with fifteen Majors, with three British Opens including two at Saint Andrews, made his first birdie on the 9th hole, triggering a round of applause and encouragement from the public which finally made him open his jaws, until he won a smile.
But his return, although less calamitous, was not brilliant either (two birdies for three bogeys).
And the par 4 of hole 18 was a reflection of his ordeal: a few centimeters near his first shot did not stabilize on the plateau of the flag and the ball fell back at the bottom of a mound.
His eagle putt didn't go far but still wide, his birdie putt went close without falling and he finished with a par.
© 2022 AFP