Steady start for Woods

TIGER Woods finished the first round of the Genesis Open six shots off the lead after returning t o t he Riviera Country Club for the first time in 12 years.

The former world No 1 started with a birdie at the 10th after a neat wedge approach and putt but dropped three shots over the next two holes.

He pulled shots back at 13 and 17, either side of a bogey at 15, and a birdie at the first was followed by bogey at the fifth.

A bogey-birdie-par finish meant a score of one-over-par and a steady start in California.

Woods was playing with Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas and all t hree birdied the opener, McIlroy holing from a bunker.

Thomas gave the shot back at the 13th but picked up another at 17, when he initially appeared disgusted with his over-hit putt before stopping in surprise when it clattered the back of the hole and dropped.

He recovered from two dropped shots with two birdies in his last three holes to finish two under.

McIlroy carded an even-par 71 in the opening round after failing to make the cut at last week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

He dropped shots at 11, 12 and 17 but eagled the first hole, having learned from Thomas’ under-hit effort.

He parred his way i n from there but was left in the shadows by fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell, who matched Thomas’ two-under-par round after three birdies and just a solitary bogey at the 13th.

Day one went to Patrick Cantlay and Tony Finau, who share the lead after rounds of five-under 66.

Tiger Woods