Woods opens with 70
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Tiger Woods moved spectators and a TV truck, and then warned everybody in earshot.
He had no idea what was going to happen with his ball sitting near an oak tree at the par-4 16th.
It turned out to be one of his best shots of the day, a low-running wedge from slippery, fallen leaves that could have broken his club and a few fingers.
It ended up just short of the green, Woods followed with a chip shot to 3 feet that saved par and provided one of the top highlights from the opening round at the Valspar ChampionshipThursday.
It also helped Woods finish at 1-under 70 and three shots back of first-round leader CoreyConners.
“It didn’t feel very good,” said Woods, who let go of the club as it started to wrap about the tree trunk. “I moved all the people even and warned them in case the club breaks and gets over there. I pitched it up the hill andcame out nicely.”
Woods was nearly as good with his next tee shot, a 5-iron to 2 feet on the par-3 17th. He tapped in for a birdie and his best start in nearly three years.
Woods captivated thousands with every shot. He had a Sunday crowd — in 50degree weather and gusting winds — following his every move around the Copperhead course at Innisbrook. Fans lined both sides of every fairway, waiting hours just to get a glimpse of Woods in his firstappearance at the event.
He ended the round on a high note with those shots at 16 and 17. He closed with a par after finding the 18th green with a 5-iron from the right rough and then two-putting from 50 feet.
“I enjoy when par is a good score. It’s a reward,” he said. “There are some tournaments when about four holes you don’t make a birdie you feel like you’re behind. Today, you know, made a couple birdies, all of a sudden that puts me fourth, fifth right away. That’s how hard it is. It’s the reward to go out there and make a couple birdies here and there, and I like that type of challenge.”