Tiger ticks box on his comeback
WOODS CHUFFED WITH PAIN-FREE PERFORMANCE
Tiger Woods proved he could be competitive again after playing some of the best golf of his comeback with a final-round four-under 68 to tie for ninth at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas on Sunday.
No one could match Rickie Fowler, though. The world No 9 birdied his first seven holes and won by four shots thanks to a course record 11-under 61 that left him at 18-under 270.
Woods was 10 strokes back but he had plenty of smiles as he answered the question of how he would do in his first tournament in nearly 10 months following spinal fusion surgery.
Pain-free, the former world No 1 struck for six birdies and an eagle at the Albany course before two closing bogeys. He also had a double bogey in the event that featured eight of the world’s top 10.
“I showed some good signs,” Woods told NBC Sports after finishing the four days at eight-under 280. “I hit some really good shots out there – and no pain.”
The day after a bogey-filled front nine, Woods showed flashes of his old self with three birdies and an eagle to make the turn at five-under 31.
Reality returned at 10 where he had a double-bogey at the parfour hole. But he struck back with birdies at 11, 14 and 15 before bogeys at 17 and 18.
Fowler was looking at a seven-stroke deficit when he began his round but seven straight birdies and another at the ninth put him in front at the turn, which he made in eight-under 28.
He added three more birdies on the back nine for a sizzling, bogey-free round.
“I knew I needed to get off to a quick start today to at least show (overnight leader) Charley Hoffman) I was there,” Fowler said. “We took care of that.”
Hoffman, who started the day with a five-stroke lead, shot 72 and faded to second at 274. England’s Tommy Fleetwood (67) and Jordan Spieth (69) tied for third at 12-under 276. –