Tiger shoots 71 in Round 1 of The Open despite sore neck

Tiger Woods carded an even-par 71 Thursday at Carnoustie after scaring the golf world when he was spotted with medical tape on his neck prior to Round 1 of the Open Championship.

Tiger apparently required medical tape after waking up with a sore neck from a bad pillow, according to Bob Harig of ESPN.

However, Woods did not seem impacted by any neck discomfort, especially during his opening nine. He birdied the first and finished 2-under at the turn. It was the first time Tiger birdied the opening hole of a major since the 2012 Open Championship.

His back nine started with a bogey after Tiger found a fairway bunker on 10, but bounced back beautifully, sinking a lengthy birdie putt the following hole.

The three-time Open champion went on to bogey two more holes, missing a three-foot par putt and finding more bunker trouble, to go into the clubhouse at even par.

Tiger sits outside the top 30, five shots back of leader Kevin Kisner.

Woods' second round begins at 5:20 a.m. ET.

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)