There’s no ignoren a fine round
SWEDEN’S Alex Noren shot a four-under-par 66 for the early lead as Tiger Woods finished even par in the opening round of Florida’s Honda Classic yesterday.
Noren, a nine-times European Tour winner, bagged five birdies and suffered just one bogey on a windy day at PGA National.
“I played quite steady my front nine, which was the back nine, then I just scrambled my way around the front nine,” said Noren.
“This was by far my best putting and chipping round of the season.”
His only bogey came on his ninth hole, the par-five 18th.
Woods, meanwhile, was two under after four holes before a bogey at his seventh hole and a doublebogey at his 12th proved costly.
Still the former world No.1 was pleased with his round of 70.
“It was not easy,” said the 14-times major champion, who is making his third start of the PGA Tour season after a long absence following back surgery.
“It was tough all around. One, the wind was blowing pretty hard. Then it was tough to make putts out there.”
Yet Woods said he was happy with his putting on bouncy greens.
“I made a lot of key short putts for par,” he said of his first back-to-back weeks of playing in three years.
Rory Mcilroy finished two over par after double bogeying the par five 18th.
Graeme Mcdowell fared better and was happy to finish level par, while Shane Lowry was at one over.
Padraig Harrington endured a tough day, shooting a six over par 76.