Tiger Woods found himself brilliantly upstaged by his mum on the eve of the 14-time Major winners return to competition following a four-month injury lay-off.
Woods finally had a score card in his hip pocket for a first time since missing the cut with a pair of 74s in last August’s PGA Championship in Kentucky.
Woods posted two birdies and a bogey for a one under par 71 in Hero World Challenge Pro-Am on the exclusive Isleworth Estate course in Orlando.
Tiger Woods mum Tida: “If you can’t get the son, then get the mother”. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“It was nice to finally have a scorecard in my pocket after so long as I have been playing at home with my boys for a little bit of cash,” he said.
“So it was a little different today and every shot out there counted a bit more. It felt good to be out there.”
Woods was naturally mobbed each time he walked from green to tee and while he stopped on occasions to sign autographs, for the most part many of those who walked the 18 holes with the former long-time World No. 1 missed out on a prize autograph.
However that was not the scenario when his mother, Tida drove up in a buggy at the side of the 13th hole who quickly obliged in being photographed with anyone polite enough to ask.
She joked: “I guess if you can’t get the son, then get the mother.”
And Woods, who has not tasted victory since capturing an eight WGC – Bridgestone Invitational last year, shrugged off any suggestions he was just competing to make up the numbers in this week’s $US 3.5m 18-man event.
“I would not have entered this week if I didn’t think I could win,” he added.
And another who believes Woods can win is the absent World No. 1 Rory McIlroy.
Tiger Woods mobbed as he makes his way to the 10th tee during the Hero World Challenge Pro-Am. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
“I played golf with him about four weeks ago and it was his first day back on a golf course since the PGA championship,” said McIlroy.
“He looked really good to me. He is healthy, he is swinging the club a lot better. He was doing most of it on his own but obviously it came out last week he has hired this swing coach Chris Como. Will I watch it?
“I probably won’t watch much of it. I will keep an eye on it of course just to see how it is going. Golf is just better wherever he is around and playing and healthy.”
And asked whether Woods could be a serious threat again, McIlroy replied: “Going by the way he played a few weeks ago in Florida, yeah.”
