Tiger Woods, the former world No.1 shots a 2-under-par 68 Thursday afternoon in the first round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club. Even though it might have paled in comparison to the 62 mind Adam Scott carded for the South Course, Woods was satisfied with energy of his swing as well as his pain-free stroll for the layout in which he has won 7 times.
"It feels great," said Woods, "You know, as anybody who's been away and who's been injured, first time back, it's nevours to know what will happen. But my exercise sessions was good, so there's no reason why I should be worried here."
Woods, who experienced not competed thinking about that he withdrew inside the avid gamers best suited after nine holes on may possibly twelve and who experienced not finished 18 holes thinking about that posting T-4 on the Masters, struggled with his the game of golf swing at times, specifically early, but his placing bailed him away from the quantity of jams.
He turned in even par many thanks to par saves of 17 and twenty ft on the 3rd and ninth, respectively, after which he birdied the very first two holes from the back again nine. A bogey on the 12th, best suited after hitting a 9-iron to the back again bunker, was erased using a 31-foot birdie putt on the 16th. He saved par at 18 regardless of missing his ninth fairway from the afternoon and possessing to punch out short from the green.
Playing in entrance of the large crowd standing 4-5 deep from tee to eco-friendly on most holes, Woods not just struggled using the path of his driver for the long, tree-lined South Course, but he also couldn't get dialed in on distances with his irons into greens. He strike twelve greens in regulation, but numerous occasions left himself extended putts. regardless of that, he required only 27 putts with his trusty Scotty Cameron putter back again in play.
"I experienced extra speed, strike it extra solid, extra compression for the ball, so i experienced been hitting it to quantities which i hadn't strike in the extended time," mentioned Woods, who reported no discomfort in his knee or Achilles. "I haven't strike it this flush in the extended time.
"I was hitting proper shots out there, as well as the distances i experienced been hitting the the game of golf ball. I hadn't strike the ball like this. This was fun, for getting in a placement to strike the ball with that very much flush sensation by method of the the game of golf ball and pace I had. it experienced been pretty nice."
If there is something considerable that arrived away from Woods' very first tournament round in twelve weeks, it experienced been the range he strike the ball away the tee. He averaged 301.6 yards, which consists of a 338-yard pop to the left bumpy at No. 9. He arrived to the 1 week averaging 289.1 yards, which ranks a dismal 99th for the PGA Tour.
"I obtained my energy back," Woods said, beaming.
Playing companion Darren Clarke, the reigning available champion, was impressed.
"He done lovely. He strike an enormous amount of great shots, which could be whatever you anticipate of Tiger Woods," mentioned Clarke, who struggled to some 77, tied for last." There were a few rusty shots. But overall, he deserved the rating he shot, if not really a few better."
Clarke should have believed that, primarily because as they walked toward the scoring trailer and traded scorecards, Clarke, smiling, chided Woods, saying, "You want me to knock really a few shots away of that?"
Woods hopes to make an make an effort to do just that on Friday, legitimately.
"I anticipate myself for getting extra ready going into Friday. I've obtained the cut-throat really feel now," he said. "I know what it feels want to acquire to the flow from the round, the rhythm of actively playing and walking, and just the flow of actively playing tournament golf, which could be way completely different than zipping near to in shorts as well as a cart."
On Thursday, he was zipping near to with out a cart, sensation good, actively playing better, and drawing throngs of fans. should have felt like outdated times. All he should make an make an effort to do now is keeping undertaking it.
