HOYLAKE, England— Tiger Woods kept a low profile in the days leading up to the British Open.

He hopes everyone will get a chance to see him on the weekend.

Play began a half-hour behind schedule today morning at Royal Liverpool, a historic links along the Irish Sea that is hosting the tournament for the first time since 1967. Overnight rains dampened the course, which was baked all week by sweltering heat, and thunder kept everyone in the clubhouse for an extra 30 minutes.

The sun broke through at midmorning and there was hardly any breeze to toughen things up — providing for very un-British Open-like conditions. SK Ho of South Korea took advantage with a 3-under 32 on the front side. American Mark Calcavecchia, the 1989 champion, was among three early players posting 33 at the turn.

Woods, who won at St. Andrews a year ago for his second Open title, had an afternoon tee time after keeping a low profile much of the week.

There was a minor frenzy when he showed up in front of the clubhouse Wednesday, stroking a few putts on the practice green under the watchful eye on his caddie and coach.

Everyone else was watching, too. Fans clamored for a prime spot behind the ropes. Photographers angled for a clear shot. Even a few players stopped what they were doing, as if looking for signs that Woods will bounce back from his troubles in the U.S. Open.

Consecutive rounds of 76 sent him home early from Winged Foot — the first time Woods missed the cut in a major since turning pro.

"I took a lot of time off prior to the U.S. Open and I wasn't hitting the ball as well as I wanted to in competition," he said. "But I fixed those mistakes ... and I got back into the competitive flow again."

We'll have to take him at his word. Getting a glimpse of Woods had been rare at Royal Liverpool. He arrived last weekend when there were no crowds, playing Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

The next two days, he teed off so early that he was done before most fans arrived at the course. On Wednesday, he didn't even play, showing up in the late afternoon to hit balls on the range and stroke a few putts.

Woods was in jeopardy of another missed cut at the Western Open two weeks ago until shooting 67-66 to work his way up the leaderboard. He finished two behind, but it was still a step in the right direction after his troubles at Winged Foot.

"It's nice when you play four rounds," he said. "I had two extra days there at the Western to get back into the flow of things, and the weekend I played great. So I feel like I'm back into playing again after taking such a long time off."

The reason for the long layoff — Woods has played only six competitive rounds since the Masters — was the May 3 death of his father.

A heat wave in Britain — the temperature reached 91 degrees on the eve of the tournament — caused the rough to die, leaving wispy strands of native grasses and fairways that are struggling to stay alive.

Phil Mickelson usually takes off the day before a major to escape the commotion and play a casual round at a nearby course. He didn't see the point of that this time because "I can't find a course as firm as this."