Tame Tiger just can’t crack the Riviera riddle
Mark it down as another day when the wiles and mysteries of majestic riviera got the better of the great Tiger Woods.
at the halfway point in the Genesis Invitational, the dream of a record 83rd PGa Tour victory remains, but the balance of probability has tilted considerably towards this being a 13th appearance here without a win rather than a celebrated first triumph.
Woods said in the build-up that he’d had too many poor putting days over the years to win, and here was another, as he missed three costly short ones coming home to fall seven shots off the pace with a 73.
Just as bad were a couple of bewilderingly bad short irons that cost him three more strokes and left him disconsolate at the close.
‘They were just bad mistakes with a wedge and sand wedge respectively and I was just not as sharp as I needed to be,’ said the tournament host. ‘I need to refocus and have a low one in the third round to have any chance.’
american Harold Varner, one of the few black players to follow in Tiger’s footsteps on to the tour, was the leader from the morning wave on seven under after a 67.
Just three shots off the pace are Justin rose, who shot a second successive 69, and Jon rahm, who served notice of his intention to replace rory McIlroy at the top of the world rankings.
Needing a win to have the chance of becoming the first Spaniard since Seve Ballesteros to reach the summit, the burly rahm carded a 67.
This time last year, it was rose who was the world number one but he’s drifted to 10th.
‘I feel like my ball striking is on the way back,’ said the 39-yearold Englishman. ‘ I’d give it a seven out of 10, and probably a nine on the range.’
The sun was a long way from rising when Woods arrived at the course before 6am for his 7.16 am tee-time. Temporary floodlights illuminated the practice putting green by the clubhouse as the tournament host went through his warm-up. By the time he reached the 10th tee — his starting hole — around 300 hardy souls were there to cheer him on. For the second day running, Woods got off to a fast start, with a birdie at the 10th.
So began a number of pleasing shots that hinted at a good day until a horror stroke at the 15th, where a wedge from 144 yards flew only 120 yards and plugged in a greenside bunker. From there he played over the green and ended up missing a 6ft putt for a bogey. Just like that, so much good work undone.
Given that Woods was four under par after nine holes on Thursday, he’s now six over for his last 27, which is most unlike him. This course really is beginning to look like his kryptonite.
McIlroy, who opened with a 68, made good progress with two birdies in his first seven holes to move into a tie for seventh, just two shots behind Varner.