Torrey Pines, California …
Tiger Woods in his much-anticipated return to the PGA Tour found himself buzzed by a hang-glider, two US F-35 fighter jets while he also took-in some dolphin watching and went close to an ace late in a round of 72 on day on of the Farmers Insurance Open.
His scoring effort left the now 41-year old trailing seven shots behind fellow American Tony Finau who carded a seven-under par 65 to lead the $US 6.9m event by a stroke.
While the roar of the fighter jets momentarily drowned-out any conversation on the Torrey Pines course the loudest noise was some 70-minutes earlier when Woods stepped on the first tee.
Tiger Woods on route to a 72 day one 2018 Farmers Insurance Open
Woods made his appearance just after 10.30am local time and with every available vantage spot taken, and after a year’s absence from the Tour when he withdrew from the same event clearly not fully-fit.
Woods was the last to tee-up after playing partners, Patrick Reed and Charley Hoffman hit off and it was very much the Tiger Woods of old when he failed to find the fairway in landing his tee shot in deep rough well left of the South Course opening fairway.
He has done this much over an illustrious career including on day one of the 2007 Open at Carnoustie in going out-of-bounds left off the first tee and finding the Barrie Burn while he lost a ball, and also left, with his first tee shot at the 2003 Open at Royal St. George’s.
There was also Woods forgettable drive 50-yards left and into a water hazard off the first tee on day one of the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K. Club, and off the first at Medinah in the 2012 Ryder Cup Woods sent his opening drive on day one into trees.
A hang-glider buzzes Tiger Woods on the 4th green during the opening day of the Farmers Insurance Open. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Woods eventually bogeyed the first and the dropped to two-over when he found a fairway bunker off the tee at the fifth hole but soon drew huge applause and some crys of ‘Heeeee’s Back’ in two-putting the par-5 sixth hole for a first birdie.
His group were walking down the fourth when they were buzzed by a hang-glider ‘riding’ the currents along with Pacific Ocean shoreline. Woods was undettered so much so he joined four members of the media on the cliff edge at the back of the fourth hole admiring young dolphins at play.
The 14-time Major winner produced then longest drive of his round, an effort of 319-yards, at the seventh hole and seconds before two ‘friendly’ fighter jets emerged over the course.
Woods hit another booming drive down the ninth and making it five of seven fairways in regulation over his outward half, and in an event he’s won seven times in the past.
Woods also recorded 14 putts over his outward half but needed just one putt to get back to level par in holing a 2-footer at the par-4 10th and start of his inward nine. He then dropped a shot at the 13th before his ‘shot of the day’ in going within inches of holing his 188-yard 6-iron shot at the par-3 16th for what was the easiest of birdies.
He finished with two pars in a round of a level par 72 and four shots fewer than on day one of the event a year ago.
Statistics-wise, Woods overall hit eight of 14 fairways and had 31 putts.
“I’m fine with a 72, I just didn’t hit my irons very well today, didn’t hit anything else,” he said.
“I didn’t give myself a lot of looks out there and consequently I didn’t make a lot of birdies. I didn’t play the par 5s as well either, I believe I played them only even par.
“So tomorrow hopefully I can drive it a little bit better, hit my irons obviously a lot closer and we’re going to the better side for greens and hopefully I can make a few.
“I was a bit nervous starting out as I’m always nervous and I care about what I do so it was fun to feel that competitive rush again and try — have a scorecard in my hand and try and post a number.
“The thing I also need to do is start finding the first fairway here at Torrey as I was right here a year ago and left today (smiling).”
There was then the sight on the practice putting green of virtually every player, and many of them who had not seen Woods in the flesh, just stopping what they were doing and looking on in awe as Woods, and flanked by local San Diego Police officers, made his way into the clubhouse.
“I thought the reception I received today was incredible,” he said.
“They were into it, they were supportive. It was nice to come back to southern California again, I miss it out here, I miss playing this golf course. Always feels good to come out here and play Torrey Pines.”
One thing was certain, that buzz that has been missing for so long from world golf was back and the thousands out following Woods and his fellow pros could not be more pleased.
