Tiger happy with his 70

Miami – Tiger Woods (above) said he was “very pleased” with a level-par 70 in the first round of the Honda Classic that left him four shots behind clubhouse leader Alex Noren of Sweden on Thursday.

“I’m very pleased,” said the 14time Major champion, who had three birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey in difficult, blustery conditions at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

“Today was not easy. It’s going to get more difficult because these greens are not the best. It was tough all-round today.”

Nevertheless, Woods matched his best opening round in four appearances at PGA National.

His decision to play in Florida this week marks his first attempt at back-to-back tournaments since 2015 as he vies to become a contender again in the wake of spinal fusion surgery last April.

Woods teed off on the 10th and had two birdies and a bogey in his first nine holes.

At the par-five third he hit his approach shot into a greenside bunker en route to a double bogey.

Noren, a nine-time winner on the European Tour, who fell to Jason Day in a marathon play-off at Torrey Pines last month, grabbed the last of his five birdies at his final hole, the par-four ninth, to take the early lead on four-underpar 66.

Among the afternoon starters, American Russell Henley was four-under after 13 holes.

Morgan Hoffman, Justin Thomas and Daniel Berger were back in the clubhouse with three-under 67s. –