Three-time Open champion Tiger Woods has said that he has to "fight through it" after a four-over-par 76 in the first round of the 144th Championship at St Andrews.

When Woods finished his round earlier today, only two players were below him on the leaderboard as many enjoyed the best of the weather conditions at the Old Course.

Speaking afterwards, Woods told reporters: "I've got to just fight, fight through it. I know that today is a very benign day. Guys are going to go low. Guys have been shooting good numbers. Unfortunately I did not do that."

Woods, ranked 241 in the world, is hoping that the conditions will take a turn for the worse and that he can surge up the leaderboard and make the cut.

"Hopefully the conditions will be tough tomorrow and I can put together a good round and we'll move up the board progressively," he said.

"I'm so far back and the leaderboard is so bunched that in order for me to get in there by Sunday, I'm going to have to have the conditions tough and then obviously put together some really solid rounds."

Woods's round of 76 is his highest ever first-round score in The Open.