Woods battles himself to make cut
SAN DIEGO — These are the new realities for 42-year-old Tiger Woods. He had to grind out a round simply to be able to play on the weekend and is getting used to the “feels” of his surgically repaired back.
Woods didn’t have to race off to the airport Friday, after all. He made the cut right on the number in the Farmers Insurance Open by rallying with four birdies on his back nine for a 1-under 71 on the North Course at Torrey Pines.
It’s the first time in 29 months that Woods will be playing the weekend on the PGA Tour.
“It was a grind,” Woods said a few minutes after walking off the course to cheers. “I fought hard. Typical, you know, just me going out there and fighting for whatever I can get. It’s all good.”
This is only his second PGA Tour event since he tied for 10th in the Wyndham Championship in August 2015. He had two back surgeries that fall, and fusion surgery on his lower back last April.
When was the last time he felt this type of grind when he was healthy?
“Physically healthy?” Woods replied. “Oh jeez, that was probably back in ’13. So, four, five, six years ago, somewhere around there. It’s been a while.”
Thus Woods’ frequent mention of the “feels” of his body.
“Totally different feels, because my body’s different,” he said. “I can’t tell you it’s the same feel I had then because I wasn’t fused. This is a different body. That’s why I’m excited to play the weekend, continue getting used to my feels, because they are different. I can do it at home and hit certain shots, but come out here in competition and my adrenaline goes up a little bit. I hit the ball further, but how much further? On top of that, what are my new feels going to be? These are the things I’m going to have to learn.”
Ryan Palmer is the 36-hole leader. Jon Rahm is right behind, poised to reach No. 1 in the world. Ben Silverman (71) of Thornhill, Ont., and Corey Conners (68) of Listowel, Ont., were the low Canadians at 4 under.