In search of his third US Open title, Woods saved par on 16, set himself up for a birdie on 17 with a solid drive and saved par on 18 after hitting his drive into the rough.

“I ran my putt about eight feet by there on 16 but made that, made a nice up and down for birdie at 17 and a nice par at 18,” Woods said.

“Basically I could have lost three shots there but was able to keep it where it is.”

Woods nearly drove the green at the 313-yard 17th. He hit his pitch shot to three feet for an easy birdie but those are few and far between.

“On this golf course there are none, there are no easy birdies,” Woods said. “On most golf courses you play, you know you’re going to pick up a cheap birdie here and there. Here there are none.”

But there are plenty of difficult holes as Woods found out.

He had four bogeys on Thursday, including three in a five-hole stretch starting on the eighth.

And the four bogeys came on a course that played as easily as it will all week after rain on Wednesday night.

“It’s as soft and receptive as you’re possibly going to have it and not too many guys are taking it to the golf course,” added the world number one.

“This golf course is hard and it’s as hard to make birdies out there as it is easy to make bogeys and doubles.

“I felt pretty good and I hit the ball pretty consistently all day. I tell you what, the USGA did a fantastic job. It was the easiest pin in each section and they gave us a chance to go ahead and post a number today.”

Only two players in the morning groups (Dougherty and Angel Cabrera with a 69) signed for rounds under par.

“On this golf course one over is fine, it’s right there,” Woods added.

“You know if you shoot even just three, four or five over par, you’re still in the tournament and you’ve got to hang in there.”