Woods pulls crowds, cheers on return
Tiger Woods brought big crowds back to golf, and he even produced a few big roars on his way to an even-par 72 in the Farmers Insurance Open in his return to the PGA Tour at Torrey Pines yesterday.
He was steady, and at times spectacular. Woods made three birdies that travelled a combined 30 inches. The longest of his birdie putts was from just inside two feet.
Woods was seven shots behind Tony Finau, who led after his 65 on the North Course, while New Zealand’s Danny Lee was tied 15th after a 69.
The biggest roar of the day came when Woods hit his best shot and was within six inches of a hole-in-one on the par-three 16th.
His 189-yard iron shot bounced on the green and then rolled just right of the cup. Woods hunched down to watch the shot, and the gallery cheered and then groaned when it saw how close he came to an ace.
The birdie got Woods back to even par, and he closed his round with two pars.
Woods made only one birdie on the front nine, on the par-five sixth, and even that came with some frustration. His long eagle putt was on line but stopped about two inches from the hole. Woods raised his putter with his left hand in anticipation as the ball approached the hole, and then spun away in disappointment when it stopped short of the cup. He tapped in for birdie to get back to one-over.
Woods is returning after fusion surgery on his lower back last April, his fourth back operation in three years. When he tried to return after a 16-month break last year at Torrey Pines, he missed the 36-hole cut
Woods says he no longer has pain in his back.
This is only his second PGA Tour event since August, 2015.