Terrific Tiger puts on a top show at last
A BOGEY at the final hole failed to spoil a fine round from Tiger Woods at the Valspar Championship.
The former world No.1 showed flashes of his brilliant best in an opening 70 in just his fourth PGA Tour event since his last bout of surgery in April.
And the 14-time Major winner surged to the top of the leaderboard for the first time since August 2015 before having to settle for 68 and a share of the early clubhouse lead at four under with England’s Paul Casey and Brandt Snedeker.
Woods said: “I’m up there. At least I’m there with a chance going into the weekend.
“Today was a good day. I did a lot of guessing and guessed pretty good. I also got fooled a few times.
“I keep getting a little bit better here and there, making these little subtle tweaks. I’ve done that from tournament to tournament.
“I’m starting to get a better feel for it. I’m finding the rhythm of the rounds.
“I’m hitting shots, I don’t have a problem posting scores. I’m able to play more feel golf than just trying to figure out how to play golf again.”
● European Tour players have been warned recent reforms in Saudi Arabia are “largely a mirage”. The Tour announced last week on International Women’s Day it will stage an event in Saudi Arabia for the first time in 2019.
In October last year it was announced Saudi Arabia would allow women into sports stadiums from 2018 in the conservative kingdom’s latest step towards easing gender segregation rules.
But they will be seated in a so-called family section, an area separate from the male-only crowd.
Kate Allen of Amnesty International said: “Players on the European Tour ought to be aware the muchhyped ‘reforms’ in Saudi Arabia are largely a mirage.
“We’re not saying players on the European Tour should boycott Saudi Arabia – but they certainly go with their eyes wide open.”
● Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo opened up a four-shot lead at the Indian Open – but will be wary of local hope Shubhankar Sharma who posted a new course record.
Grillo fired a four-under 68 for an 11-under total after two rounds. But Race to Dubai Rankings leader Sharma surged to six birdies on the back nine to sign for a 64.