Tiger roars back after horror start to share Japan lead

INZAI (JAPAN): Tiger Woods got off to a horrific start before roaring back with nine birdies in 15 holes to share the inaugural Zozo Championship lead in Japan Thursday as Rory Mcilroy struggled.

After slumping to threeover par after three holes, Woods recovered in stunning fashion to finish with a back-nine of 29 and a sixunder round of 64 alongside US Open champion Gary Woodland. “I certainly was not expecting to shoot sixunder par after that start,” admitted Woods.

“It was ugly early and it was nice to be able to flip it and really get it going.

“Now I’m in a position where we’re going to have a long, long weekend of a lot of golf that hopefully I can keep it going.” The American pair head into Friday with a one-shot lead over home hero Hideki Matsuyama, after Woods endured a roller coaster round at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Inzai City. Mcilroy had a day where he couldn’t find his usual range with his irons and his putter was cold in a twoover 72 featuring a double bogey six at the 12th. It was Woods’ lowest season-opening round in his long career and came as the 43-yearold chases an 82nd US PGA Tour victory to tie the all-time record held by Sam Snead.

That had not seemed remotely possible early on as Woods exhibited signs of rust from a two-month layoff for arthroscopic left knee surgery.

Starting his round on the 10th tee, the 15-time major winner dropped three shots in as many holes with three consecutive bogeys. He steadied himself with a par at the 13th before turning his round completely on its head with three birdies in a row to get back to level par.