3 minute read
Tiger Woods battled back from an early stumble to post a one-over 72 at the US PGA Tour event at Riviera Country Club.
Tiger Woods believes his fightback from a potential disaster round indicates he's not far off a leadership surge at the US PGA Tour event at Riviera Country Club.
The 14-time major champion saved a one-over-par 72 with a hot putter during the first round at the LA Open, leaving himself just five shots back of clubhouse leaders Tom Hoge, Dominic Bozzelli and Sam Saunders, who are on four under 67.
Woods ignited hopes for the second event of his US Tour comeback from spinal fusion surgery when he birdied his first hole of the opening round, before unravelling spectacularly over the following two holes.
A bizarre tee shot on the reachable par-5 11th which disappeared into a eucalypt tree forced Woods to re-tee and card a double-bogey 7 before dropping another shot on the next hole.
"Eucalyptus don't normally keep golf balls, but this one did," said Woods, who finished in 23rd in his last start at Torrey Pines.
"I was like, oh, man, here we go, I've got to somehow turn this thing around."
Woods battled rusty iron play to salvage five birdies in his round despite hitting just seven greens in regulation.
He can thank his putter for that.
Woods navigated Riviera's difficult poa annua greens with just 25 putts and, combined with hitting eight of 14 fairways, gave himself plenty to look forward to during the next three rounds.
"I got to two-over-par early and I fought back to even par before losing one on the seventh," said Woods after the round.
"I thought I hung in there well and grinded.
"I'm not that far off really putting some good numbers out there. I've got to clean up my card, too many bogeys, but if I can do that I'll start making my way up the board."
Playing partner Rory McIlroy was encouraged by what he saw from Woods.
"He hit some great drives coming in. He drove it much better (than Torrey Pines)," said McIlroy, a four-time major winner.
"I saw some good signs; just a better rhythm, a little bit better tempo from the top (of the swing)."
