Verplank went to Oklahoma State and still lives in Edmond, a 90-minute drive from Southern Hills, and the locals were thrilled to see one of their own playing with Woods on Saturday. There were shouts of “Go Cowboys!” and “O-S-U!” and plenty of Oklahoma State orange.

There was even a guy wearing an Oklahoma State jersey and helmet — true devotion on a day when the temperature was a sizzling 101 degrees.

“I feel bad that I didn’t keep it up and stay in there a little bit better with Tiger,” Verplank said. “The first eight, 10 holes, I kind of got to see what it’s like for him when people are always yelling. Pulling for him and all that.”

Verplank actually got within a stroke of Woods early — for about a minute. He made birdie on No. 4, then watched Woods do the same.

Then things began to unravel.

He sprayed his tee shot into the rough on the par-5 No. 5, and didn’t fare much better on his next three shots. He actually advanced the ball a decent distance with his second shot, but he was still in that thick, fluffy Bermuda.

Shot No. 3 went all of about 120 yards and found, if it was possible, even deeper rough. He finally got out of that with his fourth shot, only to land short of the green. He chipped on, and made the putt for a bogey.

But it was a double bogey on the par-4 12th that really ruined his round. He was in the trees off the tee and clipped one as he tried to come out.

“Just pulled my tee shot, stayed in the rough and had a lie I thought I could get and obviously I couldn’t,” Verplank said. “That was a big deal. I guess looking back, I should have played more conservatively, but, you know, I did what I thought was right and it wasn’t.”

He had three more bogeys over his last five holes, including three-putting for one on 18.

“I still felt like I was going to play good, but you know, it didn’t happen,” Verplank said. “Maybe tomorrow I’ll have that miracle round. I kind of went the opposite way today.”

MORE FROM GOLF

Golf Section Front

Rain shortens LPGA Tour Championship to 54 holes Westwood wins Dubai tourney, money titles Brooks, Fowler lead at Pebble Beach Peter Senior wins Champions Tour Q-school Latest golf videos Latest player news, rumors and more Tracking Tiger: News, features and more Tiger's triumphs: Recapping all Woods' wins Vote: When will Tiger win his 15th major? Vote, discuss: Best major of 2009? Golf Section Front   Add Golf headlines to your news reader: