Woods returns to Tour Championship with share of lead
ATLANTA — The crowd at East Lake was larger and louder than it has been in five years, which was the last time Tiger Woods was at the Tour Championship. It was no coincidence. Woods played one of his best rounds of the year in his return to the FedEx Cup finale and caused the biggest cheer of a sun-baked Thursday afternoon by making an eagle putt from just over 25 feet on the par-5 18th for a 5-under 65 and a share of the lead with Rickie Fowler.
It was the second time in as many FedEx Cup playoff events that Woods was tied for the 18-hole lead. He shot a 62 at Aronimink in the opening round of the BMW Championship two weeks ago on a rain-soaked course that allowed just about everyone to go low.
This felt even better on a dry, tougher East Lake course.
“This was by far better than the 62 at Aronimink,” Woods said.
Fowler, who missed two playoff events recovering from an oblique injury, putted for birdie on all but two holes for his 65 as he tries to avoid ending the season without winning.
Justin Rose, in his debut as the No. 1 player in the world, got up-and-down from the bunker for birdie on the 18th for a 66 and was tied with Gary Woodland.
Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Tony Finau, all of whom will be in France next week for the Ryder Cup, were another shot behind at 67.
Woods already considers this a successful year just by making into the 30-man field at East Lake for the FedEx Cup finale, where everyone has a mathematical chance of capturing the $10-million bonus.
Woods still has 54 holes remaining, but he felt in total control through the first round. He opened with a three-putt bogey from 25 feet, and he twice ran birdie attempts farther beyond the hole than he would have liked. But after making birdie putts from 25 feet on No. 5 and from 15 feet on No. 6, Woods figured out the speed of the greens and was on his way.
Woods will play in the final group today with Fowler. They will also be teammates next week at the Ryder Cup.
“The biggest win for him is just staying healthy and being out here all year consistently,” Fowler said. “Definitely happy for him. It’s obviously great for our sport. It’s great to have him as part of the team next week. We hope he continues to play well.
“I just want to play a little bit better and beat him,” Fowler added.
For someone like Woods or Fowler to win the FedEx Cup, they would need the top five seeds to falter.
Sixteen players in the 30-man field broke par on a hot afternoon.
Bryson DeChambeau, the No. 1 seed after the points were reset, had to birdie two of the last three holes for a 71.