Tiger Woods was unhappy with a stray ball nearly hitting him and a persistent cameraman Credit: Reuters

The 15-time major champion finished four-over after the first round at Southern Hills Credit: AP

Give Tiger Woods some breathing space, please! pic.twitter.com/V70sj5rhZg

— Andy Nesbitt (@anezbitt) May 19, 2022

However, things took a twist with five bogeys in eight holes across the turn at Southern Hills in Oklahoma.

And his mood worsened on the seventh hole, Tiger’s 16th of the day, when a stray ball suddenly came across the fairway towards him.

Woods was lining up his shot and about to step up to play when he spotted it heading towards him.

To add insult to injury, the American legend, 46, turned his ankle as he lost his footing on the grass verge – but thankfully was unhurt as he finished off his round.

However, right at the beginning of his 18, Woods was unhappy with a TV crew member who was determined to get up close and personal with him as he walked down the first fairway.

Tiger repeatedly told the camera operator to give him space, shooing them away with his arm and driver, before almost stopping to stare down the lens.

He appeared to say three times: “Back off and give me a little breathing space, please.”

Woods bogeyed the last two to finish four-over and is in danger of missing the cut.

He was playing in an all-star group with Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth.

And it was the Northern Irishman who enjoyed the best start, racing into a three-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard on six-under before dropping back towards the end of his round.

However, Rory finished with a birdie on the last to take the outright clubhouse lead.

Woods – still hindered by the leg injuries sustained in last year’s car crash – won the most recent of his four PGA titles at Southern Hills in 2007.

“It has felt better before,” Woods said of his leg.

“It’s a little sore right now and we’ll go back and start the process of getting ready for tomorrow.”

Woods was asked if he knew the television cameras caught him wincing.

“My leg is not feeling as good as I’d like it to be,” he answered.

McIlroy won in 2012 and 2014 while Spieth just needs this tournament to complete the career grand slam.

Woods played alongside Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy in an all-star group Credit: Getty