Woods steady, trails by three in Valspar

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Tiger Woods discovered how tough Innisbrook can be in a swirling wind, and hewasuptothetask.

Woods smacked his hands into an oak as he let loose of the club during a bold escape from the trees, came within inches of an ace on the next hole and most importantly was among 27 players — just under 20 percent of the field — to break par Thursday in the Valspar Championship.

Canadian rookie Corey Conners, who got into the field as an alternate not long after he failed to get through Monday qualifying, didn’t makeabogeyuntilhisfinalholeat No. 9 and shot a 4-under-par 67.

That gave him a one-shot lead over Nick Watney, Whee Kim and Kelly Kraft.

Only three other players, including former PGA champion Jimmy Walker, broke 70.

Woods made five birdies to counter his mistakes in his round of 70, the first time he broke par in the opening round of a PGA Tour event since his 64 in the Wyndham Championship in August 2015 — six tour events ago because of back surgeries.

Jordan Spieth, who won at Innisbrook in a playoff in 2015, didn’t make a birdie after the par-5 opening hole and shot a 76. Only six other players had a higher score. Rory Mcilroy, who like Woods was making his debut in this event, played in the morning and shot 74.

Henrik Stenson, who played with Spiethandwoods,alsoshot74.

At New Delhi, Pablo Larrazabal of Spain shot a 5-under 67 despite waking up 38 minutes before his tee time at the Indian Open, tying for second place with Paul Peterson and Matteo Manassero, two shots behind leader Emiliano Grillo.

European PGA: