The golf world endured a long wait to see Tiger Woods back in action when the sports world shut down in March because of COVID-19. We got a glimpse of Tiger in abysmal conditions at The Match II: Champions for Charity, and then a more formal look last month when he teed it up at the Memorial.
Woods closed out his 18th appearance in the Memorial on July 19 with a final-hole bogey that completed a 4-over-par 76 at and placed his name well down on the leaderboard at Muirfield Village Golf Club. The five-time winner of Jack Nicklaus’s annual gathering of the game’s best players posted rounds of 71-76-71-76 that left him at 6-over-par 294.
This week, Woods continues his quest for another major title at TPC Harding Park. He has a new putter in play – benching his iconic Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS that he used to win 14 of his 15 majors in favor of a new Scotty Cameron prototype.
Field by the rankings | TV info | Tee times | Photos
Woods tees off at 11:33 a.m. EDT alongside Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas.
We’re tracking his round, shot-by-shot.
No. 13 – Par 4
Tiger just cut one around to the right fairway on this dogleg right, and we’re doing our best to temper our excitement as we’ve now seen Tiger move it in both directions on command. We like where this is headed.
No. 12 – Par 4
Tiger hugs a drive around this dogleg left and it lands on the left side of the fairway. That one looked pure. Tiger is the last to hit his approach here from 182 yards, and he nestles one in (with a very helpful bounce off the left side of the green) for yet another birdie look.
Tiger was lined up right and missed it right. Birdie chance squandered.
TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 under thru 3
No. 11 – Par 3
Tiger has 6-iron from 201 yards here and it lands softly on the right side of the green before rolling to the back. He’ll have another birdie look here.
The birdie attempt was low all the way, but Tiger leaves himself with an easy tap-in par.
TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 under thru 2
No. 10 – Par 5
It’s an eerie feeling without crowds on a hazy morning at TPC Harding Park. Less fanfare than usual for Tiger on the 10th tee, but he stripes one regardless. It lands just in the left rough.
Tiger’s hitting out of the left rough, albeit from a favorable lie. He used a fairway woods, but it went well right and outside of the ropes. Yet again, a favorable lie and hits a high pitch that lands softly and leaves an 8-footer.
The birdie putt is good (hello, new putter) and Tiger is in the red to start the day.
TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 under thru 1
Pre-round
It’s not going to be warm in San Francisco this week, which makes Woods’ warm-up even more key. Here’s an idea.
How do you warm up?
A look at @TigerWoods’ routine. pic.twitter.com/LNzrOBPats
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 6, 2020
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