Tiger feeling revved up

LOS ANGELES. — Tiger Woods admits the juices are flowing and he’s once again feeling that old competitive drive.

Woods opened with an impressive — if somewhat erratic — one-under-par 70 to lie tied-eighth after the opening round of the Valspar Golf Championship.

It was an up-and-down day to be sure, with Woods mixing five birdies with four bogeys, but considering how tough Innisbrook was playing, it’s fair to say this was the former World No 1’s toughest test to date since his return, and that he passed it with flying colours.

Consider that Woods was playing alongside major champions Jordan Spieth and Henrik Stenson and comfortably outscored them both. Stenson had a threeover 74, while Spieth fared even worse with a 76. To lie just three shots off the lead was a more than respectable return for Woods, and he admits he’s really starting to enjoy himself out there again.

“The [juices] are flowing. I’m revved up. I love competition,” he said after the round.

“I have a great pairing this week. Jordan [Spieth] and Henrik [Stenson] are two great guys. Very competitive. Have had great years. “I enjoy when par is a good score, it’s a reward. There are some tournaments when [after] about four holes you don’t make a birdie and you feel like you’re behind.

“Today, made a couple of 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.