Tiger Woods in the Rough [J. Mark English]

MAMARONECK, N.Y. (AP) -- The U.S. Open gave Tiger Woods a rude welcome back Thursday.

For Colin Montgomerie, it was a surprisingly happy return.

Playing for the first time since his father died, Woods ended a nine-week layoff with bogeys on his first three holes that sent him to his highest start ever in the U.S. Open. He had to play the final six holes 1 under par to escape with a 6-over 76, leaving him seven shots behind Montgomerie in the toughest first round of this major in 20 years.

Woods looked somber at times, although that was more likely a product of Winged Foot that memories of his father.