Tiger Woods is hoping for better luck on the morning greens on Friday after carding a three-over par 74 on day one of the US Open (Woods 7/1 to win US Open).

The world number one failed to make a birdie during his opening round and he was joined on +3 by playing partner Lee Westwood (20/1).

England’s Paul Casey is the joint-leader at -2, with American Shaun Micheel and Zimbabwe’s Brendon De Jonge, while Ian Poulter is in a group of six players on one-under par.

Woods will be out early on day two and he hopes to take advantage of the smoother greens which get much trickier to read as the day goes on.

“These greens are just awful. They’re fast, you know they’re going to be bouncing all over the place and you can’t leave yourself a second putt,” he said.

“There’s no one making a lot of putts out there, no one is going low, you just can’t. The afternoon guys can’t. The morning guys have a chance.”

Woods’ great rival Phil Mickelson (20/1) shot a four-over 75 on Thursday but Casey birdied the 18th to share the lead and the Ryder Cup star will also be out early on Friday in his three-ball with Steve Stricker and Sergio Garcia (Casey 5/4 to win three-ball).

There has not been a European winner of the US Open since Tony Jacklin in 1970 but there are plenty of Europeans in contention after the first 18 holes. Alex Cejka is on -1, while Luke Donald and Graeme Mcdowell are both on even par.

England’s Ross McGowan and Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen are a shot further back, while Garcia and Padraig Harrington carded two-over pars 73s for their opening round.