TIGER HAS TRUE BRIT
TIGER WOODS reckons playing testing PGA National in Florida reminded him of tackling an Open venue in Britain.
The former world No.1 ground out a level-par 70 in the first round of the Honda Classic.
And Woods said: “I played hard today and it was difficult out there.
“I had to try to put the ball in the correct spots and there’s interesting putts out there. Definitely it was different, like playing The Open.
“You get a shot on the green and see a big puff of sand. It was tough all the way round so I just had to grind it out all day and I was very happy with it.”
Woods got off to a strong start, rolling in a 20-footer for birdie at the 11th, his second hole.
When he birdied the 13th he was tied for the lead at two under.
A bogey at the 16th relegated him to a one-under 34 going out.
Then at the par-five third his third shot found a greenside bunker and Woods blasted out short into the rough on his way to a double bogey. But he hit back with a cracking wedge at the fourth that left a six-footer for birdie to move back to level.
Alex Noren posted a 66 to share the clubhouse lead on four under with American Webb Simpson.
PGA champion Justin Thomas is one shot behind them alongside Morgan Hoffman and Daniel Berger.
But Rory McIlroy is well off the pace after the Northern Irishman fired a two-over 72.
Swede Noren, who had five birdies and a bogey, said: “I played quite steady on my front nine then I just scrambled my way around coming back in.
“This was by far my best putting and chipping round of the season.”