USA TODAY International Edition
Woods’ return to golf looks good.
Win out of reach, but progress clear
NASSAU, BAHAMAS Doubts instead of clouds hovered over Tiger Woods in this slice of paradise as he returned to competitive golf for the first time in nearly 16 months.
While clouds moved in Saturday at the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Club, those doubts have sailed away with the cruise ships. The former world No. 1 has given every indication that as long as his back holds up, he’ll be one tough customer to deal with in 2017.
In an opening- round 73 and during the stunning 65 he shot in Round 2, Woods looked strong, his speed impressive and short game in order. Then he really whet the appetites of golf fans when he burst off the first tee in the third round and went birdiebirdie- birdie, then added another birdie by holing a 25- yard shot out of the bunker at the fifth.
Could the impossible become possible? Could Woods actually win in his first start in 466 days?
No. But another indication that Woods is back to being Woods again — at least in the manner of how he grades himself — is that after a 2- under- par 70 in the third round, he wasn’t angry but wasn’t exactly pleased with the red- number result even knowing he’s been away for so long.
When you get within two shots of the lead on the front nine as Woods did, and then end up 11 shots behind leader Hideki Matsuyama at day’s end, you shake your head wondering what might have been. When you make bird- ies on four of the first five holes, add another on the 11th but come home with two bogeys and a double in your last six holes, lose the feel of your putter and miss your last five fairways off the tee, a sour taste takes up residence in your mouth.
At 8 under through 54 holes, Woods is left to battle for anything but the championship hardware that Matsuyama, who has won three of his last four starts and has posted 65- 67- 65 this week, has in his clutches.
But battle is what Woods will do in Sunday’s final round.
Woods, who had no idea what to expect this week and didn’t know he could even go 72 holes, will look back and see far more positives than negatives. For instance, those chipping woes that haunted him? Long gone. And going forward, and especially when he has more time to deal with his new equipment and build up his strength, he’s confident he’ll get better.
“I’m very pleased to be back and to be able to compete at this level again,” said Woods, the winner of 79 PGA Tour titles and 14 majors. “It’s been a very, very difficult road. You guys were all here last year and I did not feel very good. I was really, really struggling, and I struggled for a very long time. Worked with my physios and had to be very patient and was finally able to start building, and here we are.”
“I’m very pleased to be back and to be able to compete at this level again.” Tiger Woods