Tiger Woods continued to boost hopes of a first victory in well over five-years with a sizzling outward nine of 29 and a round of 62 in heatwave conditions on day one of the BMW Championship in Philadelphia.

Woods headed the scorer’s room at eight-under par, and one behind Rory McIlroy, and who he had played a 9-hole practice round on Tuesday, and with McIlroy at nine-under par after 15 holes.

Woods had ignited thoughts of a career first 59 in producing an eagle and four birdies, and in the process recording just 13 putts, in a six-under par 29.

He then moved to seven-under par with a birdie at his 10^th hole but then pared his next five holes ahead of a 16^th hole birdie before Woods’ only bogey at his 17^th and ending the first round of his 18^th event this year with an eighth birdie of his day.

The effort is Woods’ lowest round all season since a final round 64 to finish second in the PGA Championship while it is his lowest PGA Tour score since a second round 61 to capture the 2013 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational, and his last taste of success anywhere.

“I made a few putts today and also from right of the gate with birdies at 10 and 12 and 13 so that was a nice way to get things rolling,” he said

“Then to shoot 29 on the front nine helps. It helps a lot.”

After being out in 29, the current World No. 26 quickly had Tour officials delving into their Woods statistics folder and advising it was the sixth occasion in Woods 22-year pro career he’s completed a front nine in 29 or better.

And on four of those occasions – the 1996 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic (29), the 1997 AT&T Byron Nelson Classic (29),2006 WGC – American Express Championship (29) and the 2007 Tour Championship (28) – Woods has gone on to win.

It has only been the 1999 AT & T Bryon Nelson Classic, and where he also shot 59, that Woods finished T7th.

Woods clearly looked refreshed and this after electing not to visit the course on Wednesday, and also skipping for a first time this year competing in the Pro-Am.

He had birdied his opening hole, par-4 10^th from 20-feet and then birded the par-4 12^th from 13-feet before holing a 12-footer for birdie at the next, the par-4 13^th.

Woods then had a huge following roaring their approval with the highlight of his round in landing a 262-yard second shot to just five-feet at the par-5 16^th and rolling in the eagle ‘3’ putt.

Then for good measure, Woods played superb 135-yard wedge shot to four-feet behind the flag at the uphill par-4 18^th and holed the birdie putt.

Woods was on a roll bringing the par-4 first hole or the 10^th of his round, to it’s knees in draining a 13-footer to move to seven-under par but only for the birdies to dry-up over the ensuing five holes before another laser-like wedge shot from 110-yards out and landing his ball to only nine inches for birdie at his 16^th.

Woods dropped the only shot of his round with a poor tee-shot at the par-3 eighth or the 17^th of his round before getting back to eight-under in holing a testy five-footer for birdie at the last.

And Woods credited his lowest round all season with a decision to return to the putter he won 13 of his 14 Majors and this after taking two putters into his only practice round, and  one of the them the ‘Scotty Cameron’ he used today.

“The putter felt good and my body remembered the feel of that putter and how it swings, and I was just letting them rip on the greens,” he said.

“The greens also were just perfect and while a bit on the slow side, they were great”.