Woods remains in a solid groove
He rallies for a 68 in the first round at Bay Hill, trailing Stenson by four shots.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods walked back down the third fairway Thursday at Bay Hill with his threewood in hand.
A golf cart soon met him to whisk Woods back to the tee box to replay a shot that had gone out of bounds.
Once seated, Woods pulled down the brim of his cap, hung his head and let loose a four-letter expletive — it was not “golf.”
Much of Woods’ hard work soon would evaporate with a double-bogey six. But he was not finished.
Woods closed with a flourish for a four-under-par 68 during the opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Woods sits four shots out of the lead in a tournament he’s won a record eight times but had not played since 2013. Henrik Stenson, the 2016 British Open winner, shot a 64 and is a stroke ahead of 22-year-old Aaron Wise and 26-year-old Talor Gooch.
Jimmy Walker, Rickie Fowler and Bryson DeChambeau shot 67. Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy and Ernie Els were in a big group at 69.
Woods’ lowest opening score at Bay Hill since 2009 was played during more challenging morning conditions Thursday. It is the latest sign the 42-year-old’s comeback from back surgery is on the fast track.
Just two months since his return to the PGA Tour, Woods looks ready to bag his 80th win and contend next month at the Masters, where he has become the betting favorite.
“I’m starting to get the feel playing tournament rounds and that just took time,” Woods said. “It took time and patience and playing tournaments. I’m scoring now, so I’m going out there and hitting shots and I’m scoring.
“I don’t have to really think that much and just going out there and doing it.”
With temperatures hovering around 50 degrees, Woods began his round on the 10th hole. He soon was on autopilot en route to an airtight three-under 33 on his opening nine.
Woods did not have his best stuff coming in on the front side at Bay Hill. But as he did in his heyday, Woods made the most of it — and then some.
Woods followed a blocked iron shot on the par-five sixth hole with a daring flop shot off a tight lie, over a bunker and to a tucked pin. The shot left him a virtual tap-in from three feet for his fourth birdie on the course’s four par-fives.
“I took a chance and tried to play a spinner and I did, I pulled it off,” Woods said of his chip shot. “It had plenty of sauce on it.”
But the most delicious moment came a hole later. His tee shot on the 204-yard par-three seventh barely found the right side of the green, leaving Woods’ 71 feet from the hole.
The putt crested a slight ridge before the ball made a beeline for the hole.
Woods could only smile, while the crowd shouted its approval.