Woods certain he's still going in right direction

The American shot 80 in the first round at Chambers Bay yesterday

Tiger Woods has said he is convinced his game is heading in the right direction, despite shooting 80 at the US Open yesterday.

Without a major win since he won the tournament in 2008, Woods continued his poor form this year in the first round at Chambers Bay.

However, when asked whether he is convinced he is still on track to return to his best form, Woods said: "Yeah I am, I am. I know when I do it right it's so easy.

"It just feels easy to control, easy to do it, easy to hit all my shots. I just need to do it more often and build from there," he added.

Woods, whose first round score was one shot better than playing partner Rickie Fowler's, also admitted he is in the hardest phase of his career.

"I haven't played enough. I haven't had a rhythm to play. I didn't play much last year and I haven't played much this year.

"Knee surgeries are pretty easy compared to a back surgery, the recovery time."

The 14-time major winner hit eight bogeys and a triple-bogey on the 14th hole during his round, making only a single birdie on the 16th.

He finished T17 at the Masters in April, but said he is still searching for consistency.

"It's one of those things, just got to work through it.

"I'm trying as hard as I can to do it and for some reason I just can't get the consistency that I'd like to have out there."