Tiger Woods’ opening-round 2-under-par 70 today in The Players Championship was a solid recovery from his missed cut at Quail Hollow. Unlike last week, Woods was under control in his round of three birdies and one bogey, putting himself in position to score well. With sharper work on the greens, Woods could be much closer to leaders J.B. Holmes and Robert Allenby (6-under).
Woods took 31 putts, lipping out for birdies on three holes. Woods’ best shot of the day came at No. 9, a par five, where he hit a 3-wood from 271 yards out to a narrow green. The shot finished 20 feet from the hole, but Woods missed the eagle putt.
“I’ve played six rounds in seven months,” said Woods. “I need rounds under my belt.”
After a Masters where he drove the ball all over Augusta and a Quail Hollow where everything went haywire, Woods hit 9 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens in regulation.
“I feel like I can draw the ball now,” said Woods. “When I’m swinging well, I’m delivering the ball right to left.”
On a day of benign conditions — the wind was down and the course was uncharacteristically soft – 85 players broke par, including Lee Westwood (5-under), defending champion Henrik Stenson (3-under), 2008 winner Sergio Garcia (3-under), Jim Furyk (3-under), Vijay Singh (3-under), and Phil Mickelson (2-under).
Look for higher scores Friday and the top players to rise, maybe even a rejuvenated Woods.
