A 332-yard driver, five birdies, six bogeys... Woods' report card on his return in 10 months
1-over par (5 birdies, 6 bogeys).
Playing in his first PGA Tour event in 10 months, Tiger Woods (USA) effortlessly walked uphill and hit driver shots up to 332 yards. But on the final 18th hole (par-4), he showed a lack of stamina and practice as he shanked his second shot (the ball hits the “heel” of the club, which connects the head to the shaft, causing it to go in an odd direction).
Woods was up-and-down with birdies and bogeys in the first round of the PGA Tour's Genesis Invitational ($20 million purse) at the par-71 Riviera Country Club in Palisades, Calif.
A rough round of 1-over-par 72 left him tied for 51st place in the 70-man field. Patrick Cantlay shot a 7-under 64 with eight birdies and one bogey to take sole possession of the lead.
Woods was in good spirits throughout the tournament, as his fans turned out in droves to welcome the return of the “Emperor of Golf” and cheered him on with every shot.
Woods underwent ankle surgery after withdrawing from the Masters in April last year and spent 10 months rehabilitating and working on his fitness. He played in two event tournaments last December, but this was his first full tournament. The most striking change was the improvement in his gait, which had been noticeably limp whenever he stepped out on the course after a near-fatal car accident shortly after this event in 2021. Riviera Country Club is a hilly, undulating course similar to the mountainous terrain of South Korea, but Woods didn't seem to struggle with it.
His drives averaged 304 yards with a maximum of 332 yards, despite his smooth swing. On the par-5 17th hole (609 yards), he hit his tee shot from 324 yards and left 268 yards before hitting his second shot onto the green for a two-putt birdie. His accuracy and short game were not yet sharp. He missed the green eight times in 18 holes, six of which resulted in bogeys. His putt count was 30.
“The ball was going to the next hole a lot, which was stressful,” Woods said. I'm disappointed I didn't play more consistently,” he said, adding, “My feet felt fine, my legs are a little sore and achy. That's to be expected,” he said.