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Tiger's greatest shots A look at some of the most memorable moments at majors for Tiger Woods NBCSports.com

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First round on Thursday, holes 13-18
The ache didn't look like it was in Tiger Woods' surgically repaired left knee after he made double bogey at the 14th, his second of this first round of the 108th U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

It looked like it was in his stomach.

With his drive at the 18th, though, it was clear his left knee is still not right.

Woods' face contorted with that shot, and he moved gingerly. Still, he hit a strong drive there, so strong he reached the green with a 7-iron to give himself a chance at eagle. He three putted, another mistake, but the scary thing for the rest of the field is that Woods is right in the mix.

Hobbled and rusty, he played his final six holes in 2-over par to post a 1-over 72.

The good news for Woods is that he's within striking distance of a leaderboard filled with so many unproven players. He walked off the 18th just four shots off the lead.

Despite two double bogeys over the first 14 holes, he can still win this thing. There were enough positives to build on despite his biggest mistakes. It was, after all, his first tournament round in eight and a half weeks. It was his first 18-hole round since The Masters.

Woods acknowledged Tuesday that his knee was sore, but he just needed to get back in the "competitive flow." He hit enough good shots to see he's close.

Phil Mickelson birdied the final hole and was able to leave the course with a smile and a 71, a shot better than Woods.

The smile was a big deal.

Mickelson looked like it actually hurt him to smile early in his round. The crowds here aren't seeing the regular tip of the cap they expect from him. They aren't getting as much eye contact as they're used to seeing. That's because Mickelson is grinding so hard. Nothing was easy for him early, but he made three birdies over his final six holes to right himself.

Woods' short game helped make up for mistakes. He followed his terrific par save at the 12th with another at the 13th hole.

After blowing a wedge over the green at No. 13, he popped a pitch to 8 feet and made the putt.

As long as this course is, the longest in U.S. Open history, the short game really matters this week. That's because so many players will miss greens. Mickelson's always taken great pride in his short game, but outside that gaffe at the 14th, Woods is the one who gave a clinic today.

Woods' showed enough pain at the 18th to wonder if his knee will hold up this week. He showed enough willpower to think it might not matter if he plays the rest of the week hurt. He still might win.

First round on Thursday, holes 7-12
Tiger Woods is working that rust off quickly.

After that sluggish start, he's beginning to look like himself again through 12 holes.

It wasn't just his birdies at the eighth and ninth holes to get on the leaderboard at 1-under, it was the way he reacted to his poor shots. It was the way he angrily swiped his club through the air after pushing his approach shot right at the 12th hole. That's the Tiger we expect to see at major championships, not the guy who barely reacted to making a double bogey at the first hole.

Tiger looked more like himself around the 12th green, too, with a nice par save.

From the deep greenside rough, Woods muscled a pitch onto the green to 10 feet.

Woods stalked that putt the way we're so used to seeing him stalk putts. He grinded hard over it, knocking in the putt to save par and keep himself on the leaderboard tied for seventh through 12 holes. He's three shots off the lead.

Phil Mickelson isn't looking like himself at all aside Woods in their pairing.

He's 3-over through 12 holes.

While Mickelson talked about this being his best chance to win a U.S. Open because Torrey Pines is practically in his backyard, maybe this is too hard for him to win. Maybe being at home is ratcheting up the pressure too much. He doesn't look comfortable. He cut back his face time at the course earlier this week, saying the attention he was getting from hometown fans was too much. He wanted to conserve his energy. It hasn't helped him.

Adam Scott's making no move, either. He's 2 over through 12.

First round on Thursday, holes 1-6
The excitement built before Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson or Adam Scott struck their first shots Thursday morning in the marquee pairing at the 108th U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

A buzz built when Mickelson left the practice putting green first to make his way to the first tee.

The thousands of fans crammed around the first tee let out a rowdy cheer when Mickelson rounded the clubhouse through the runway to the tee box.

Adam Scott got a polite reception when he turned the corner a minute behind Mickelson, and the place erupted again when Woods made his entry shortly after Scott.

The trio didn't give the masses following them much to cheer about after that through the first six holes, though.

They were a cumulative 3-over par.

Woods played the first hole like a nervous rookie.

Though he seems to be walking slower between shots, Woods didn't show any other visible favor to his left knee. This is his first tournament start since arthroscopic surgery eight and a half weeks ago. He showed lots of early rust on his game.

After pulling his tee shot left into the deep rough at the opening 448-yard par 4, Woods was forced to hack back into the fairway. He was about 80 yards away on his third shot and hammered that deep, his wedge shot taking one bounce and ricocheting off the back of the green. He couldn't get up and down, missing a 5-footer for par.

Woods didn't even frown pulling his ball out of the hole after an opening double bogey.

Mickelson and Scott started solidly with pars, but neither would distinguish himself over the first six holes.

Mickelson made an impression before hitting his first shot. He's attired in a tight, collarless black shirt with short sleeves. He's got some bulging biceps, and apparently he wanted Woods to get a good look at them.

The muscle in Phil's head wasn't working early, though. He made three consecutive bogeys after missing greens at the fifth, sixth and seventh holes.

Woods didn't hit his first good shot until the third hole, where he knocked his tee shot to 4 feet. He missed the putt, though.

Scott's ball striking looked terrific early, but he missed birdie putts of 5 and 4 feet at the second and third holes.