Albany, Bahamas ….
Tiger Woods was somewhat subdued and admitting after posting a one-over par 73 and finish the round sharing 16th place and one from the bottom in the 18-player field that he was struggling to shake off a ‘bug’ and also revealing his ankles have been hurting.
It left the tournament host trailing eight shots behind the leading duo of reigning Masters champion, Patrick Reed and fellow American Patrick Cantlay.
Woods had revealed during Wednesday’s Pro-Am he was battling with a 102-degree fever and having picked-up a ‘bug’ from his son, Charlie.
And while Woods’ fever had broken there was the sight of the current World No. 13 on the 11th tee affixing a bandage to the back of his left ankle.
“I’m feeling a lot better today, for sure,” he said.
“It’s been a long week or so dealing with what I have. At least this tournament is now started and we’ve got it underway, so that I’m now back into the rhythm of playing again, which is nice.
“As for my ankles, I’ve struggled with them the last few months and they’ve just been sore. Just wear and tear.”
Woods’ round included birdies at five, six, 15 and the last.
Though sticking out like a sore thumb on Woods scorecard was a triple-bogey ‘6’ and the par-3 12th hole where his tee shot came to rest well below the green but inside a lateral hazard and just short of water that guards the entire left side of the hole.
Woods played his second that was short and with his ball running back down the green and this time into the water from where he took a penalty drop on route to chipping his fourth to the green and two-putting.
Tailing out the field is 2016 champion, Hideki Matsuyama of Japan in signing for a two-over par 74.
