David J. Phillip / AP

Tiger Woods drops his club as he reacts to his shot on the 18th hole during the first round Thursday. Woods shot a 2-under 70, but he must regret not scoring better, NBCSports.com contributor John Harper writes.

Tiger did admit, at least indirectly, that he had let a golden scoring opportunity slip away. He said the conditions reminded him of Masters past, particularly on the back nine where the par-fives, Nos. 13 and 15, played well under par for the field.

“This day was reminiscent of how it used to be,’’ Woods said. “You could go out there on that back nine and make some birdies, and if you caught some good gusts you could shoot some pretty good numbers.’’

For awhile it seemed Tiger would follow that formula. After a 36 on the front nine, Woods made three straight birdies on holes 13, 14 and 15 to get to 3-under, and had a 12-footer on No. 16 to go to 4-under.

But he slid the birdie putt past the hole, then lipped out a four-footer at No. 17 after a gorgeous approach shot.

“I blocked it,’’ Woods said of that one, meaning he pushed it right.

Still, when he bombed a drive up the fairway at No. 18 it seemed Tiger would at least make par and finally break 70 on Day 1. But his 8-iron approach sailed deep into the gallery behind the green, and his chip then went down the hill, 30 feet past the pin, leading to the bogey that was still eating at him afterward.

“Unbelievable,’’ Woods said. “I hit just a little 8-iron and it flew 155 — uphill. It is what it is. I hit a good shot and it ended up in a bad spot.’’

In one sense this was typical Tiger. Rarely, if ever, does he admit to flaws in his game, and maybe that’s part of his success, refusing to bend mentally to any notion that he could be in trouble.

In another sense this was atypical Tiger, barking back, albeit in a humorous disguise, at what he perceived as an attack of sorts. He was right, of course: His first-round problems haven’t stopped him in the past.

But then, Woods never has had to look up at so many red numbers as he does right now. That putter better warm up in a hurry.