Woods rallies to salvage par in return to Memorial
DUBLIN, Ohio — One shot on the wrong side of the creek. One shot in the water. Another one in someone's backyard.
Tiger Woods was headed for another bad memory at the Memorial.
One shot changed everything.
Woods recovered from a rugged start Thursday by running off three straight birdies late in the opening round to salvage an even-par 72 at Muirfield Village, leaving him seven shots behind in a tie for 47th.
"I fought back and I didn't really have much starting out," Woods said. "Didn't really feel my swing very well, and consequently I hit it both ways — mainly left. I wasn't rotating very well. Made a few tweaks, a few changes, made a couple of birdies, made a couple of putts, and lo and behold, I finished at even par. I know it's a long way back, but at least I've got a fighting chance."
Woods is a five-time winner at the Memorial. The last time he was at Muirfield Village was three years ago, when he shot a career-high 85 in the third round and had to play as a single Sunday morning.
What turned it around for him was a 3-iron from 245 yards that had to carry a pond in front of the green on the par-5 fifth.
"That was huge because I just came off three-putting 4. I hit it over the back on 3 with a wedge, and I needed to get some momentum going," Woods said. "I had two par 5s left. I figured I could get to even par somehow. But I needed to take care of 5 first. And I was able to do it."