Tiger Woods was one of only six players to break par in Thursday’s first round of the 2012 US Open in San Francisco. Tiger, the pre-tournament favorite, was pleased with his performance after opening with a 1-under 69 that was good for a five-way tie for second, three shots behind opening round leader Michael Thompson.

Happy Tiger:

I felt very pleased with every facet of my game. I stayed very patient out there and … I was very pleased how I executed my game plan. I know I can hit the ball this way and I know I have been hitting the golf ball this way for some time. And I was able to put it together in a major championship. I’m going to need it the next three days. This golf course is only going to get faster.

Wednesday night, Matt Cain pitched the 22nd perfect game in Major League Baseball history, and the first in Giants franchise history. The San Francisco Giants beat the visiting Houston Astros 10-0, and I watched it all (well, the last seven innings plus) from the upper deck of AT&T Park. For more on the experience, head to Bugs&Cranks.

The numbers: 125 pitches, career-high 14 strikeouts, 27 up and 27 down. Cain even singled and scored a run.

Jim Rome has had some testy exchanges in the past — remember ‘Chris Everett’ and the flipped table? — but this one with NBA commissioner David Stern is probably his best.

Rome asks Stern if the NBA draft lottery is fixed, and it goes haywire from there. Stern asks if Rome “still beats his wife” and also tells him that he has to go because he has to call someone more important — Stephen A. Smith.

h/t: Faux John Madden

Tiger Woods may be the favorite this week at the US Open in San Francisco, but there will still be a lot of eyes on Rory McIlroy, who will endeavor to become the first golfer since 1989 to successfully defend the US Open title. Not all has been rosy since Rory ran away with last year’s US Open. Rory tied for 7th at last week’s FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis, breaking a slump of three consecutive missed cuts.

As we looked at Tiger’s prop bets for the 2012 US Open yesterday, we’ll take a look at the many Rory McIlroy US Open prop bets on offer:

• Odds Rory will win the 2012 US Open: +1400
• Odds Rory will finish in the top five: +275
• Odds Rory will finish in the top ten: +110
• Odds Rory will make the cut: -550