Tiger woods shoots 69. The trek up to the Riviera Country Club clubhouse from the 18th hole is an uphill one. However, any discomfort Tiger Woods might feel in his right leg was at ease by the cheers of the crowd who chanted his name at the green’s grass auditorium.
Despite an injury that is a source of concern for the 15-time major winner. Thus, when the walker, Woods punctuated his first round of golf competitive in the last seven months. That is, by making three birdies in the last three holes to score an unbeatable 69 on the Genesis. Invitational and make his return to the PGA Tour an electric one.
Woods is just 5 shots ahead of the co-leaders Max Homa and Keith Mitchell.
“I did not want to be the idiot host. Furthermore, be unable to catch it before everyone after I’d just made birdie-birdie”. Tiger Woods said of his birdie putt at No. 18. “It was a fantastic round.”
The happiness Woods expressed on 18th of July was the celebration of not just 7 months waiting. Also, rehabbing but also a fitting conclusion to a round not easy. Over more than five hours Woods struggled to make the perfect par. In addition to this, rebounded from three bogeys with a string of vintage shots, that completely changed the tone of his round.
Woods said to reporters on Tuesday that hitting shots wasn’t an issue. On Thursday, he took to the course and proved it. On the tees, Woods was routinely hitting the ball for more than 325 meters (three shots were longer than 300 yards). Furthermore, out-driving his teammates (including Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas -on a couple of holes.
According to what Woods explained. Thus, due to the layout of the course is allowing him to increase the range off the green. Hence, as a result of the amount of roll that the ball takes. Even though the course still required him adapt to how far he was gaining from adrenaline on its own.
Due to his physical condition it was expected of the final nine to be difficult for Woods to take on. While that may be the scenario. His game ironically improved as the round went on. Drivers were farther, approaches shots were sharper. Finally, putts began to drop. After bogeying the 12th hole and the 10th hole. Tiger Woods made three straight pars before moving into the 16th hole. Finally, making his shot for the tournament.
Woods put up at the left end of the tee box. Furthermore, made a nine iron which went right before landing pin high. That is, just five feet away from the cup. The putt was slid in to the left side, and appeared to provide Woods the spark he was looking for. He then shot a ball 322 yards to the par-5 17th hole and made an 18-footer to make birdie. The shot was strong enough to trigger the first fist pump of the day.
At the point he got to the 18th green. Also, was just eight feet to make his third consecutive birdie. Obviously, it felt like it was a formality. There was not a fist pump when the ball fell in the air, but a swift applause to the fans who was cheering him on incessantly since the very first tee shot.
“I was trying to get myself all day long,” Woods said. “Trying to determine what I’m doing here since I’ve not played in a while.”
Woods’s return is encouraging given his overall health. In the course of the round, he had an occasional twitching steps as he attempted to ease the pressure to his left ankle. In a couple of times during the round Woods put off the right foot and then adjusted his ankle brace as well as socks. When waiting to get his tee off and tee off, he leaned his right foot up to stretch it.
When he finished his round on the 11th hole, Woods took the time applying a lotion onto his lower back.
“My ankle is much smaller than it was. I’ve been through multiple surgeries, and the ankle is always changing, and the leg is always changing,” Woods said. “Yes the shoes change and socks keep changing. Every thing is a moving target. The amount I’m in my shoes as well as what I’m doing active, how active I am as well as how unactive I am muscles are active, they’re off. It’s a constant target every day.”