2008 U.S. Open Round 1 - Open leaders far from the crowds

Tiger Woods prepares to tee off on the first day of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course, where he’d defeat Rocco Mediate in a playoff to win the 2008 title despite a badly injured knee. Woods would take the rest of the year off to have surgery and recover. He won six times in eight starts worldwide.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Tiger Woods tees off at the first hole on the first day of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

A large crowd watches Tiger Woods tee off at the first hole on the opening day of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Phil Mickelson watches the flight of his ball off the first tee on the first day of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Adam Scott tees off at the first hole on the opening day of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Ernie Els tees off on the 7th hole in the first round of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Swing coach Hank Haney and Tiger Woods in the practice area on the first day of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course.  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

Crowds line the third fairway to watch Tiger Woods tee off on the first hole of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

Tiger Woods tees off on the third hole of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

Fans watch Tiger Woods tee off on the seventh hole of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Photographers work to get a good shot of Tiger Woods on the first day of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

One of the best ways to get a good look at the players was to get down low on the first day of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Fans get a better view with scopes that allow them to see over the heads of other spectators on the first day of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

A volunteer mans the leaderboard on the first day of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

The crowd jams the grandstand on the fourth green at Torrey Pines on the first day of the U.S. Open.  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

Phil Mickelson reacts after just missing a putt for birdie on the 18th green during the first round of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

Jayden Canaba, 5 of Alpine, Texas sleeps on the first fairway after getting up early to watch Tiger Woods at the US Open at Torrey Pines. At right is sister Annika, 7 and father Troy Canaba.  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)