Tiger Woods and his elite invitational field returned to Albany Golf Club in Albany, Bahamas, for the 20th rendition of the Hero World Challenge, which is being played in the tropical paradise for the fourth straight year.
Here’s what you missed from the first round of the Hero World Challenge.
The Patricks in the field really shined
Patrick Reed and Patrick Cantlay put on a show on Thursday, with 15 birdies between them. Cantlay’s card was clean, with seven birdies, while Reed had a single bogey on the par-3 eighth hole, but carded eight birdies to make up for it.
Tied for the lead.@PReedGolf makes eighth birdie of the day.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/SPans13FmA
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 29, 2018
Reed has has three top-five finishes in four appearances at the Hero, while Cantlay is in the field for the first time.
Both players made it in the house with 65s — good enough for a three-shot lead over Henrik Stenson and Dustin Johnson (-4).
Tiger’s round was up and down
Though he made four birdies, Tiger’s round was largely derailed by a triple bogey on the par-3 12th hole, when his tee shot found the rough and his chip shot rolled back into the water.
“I just didn’t feel quite comfortable with my game,” Woods said after his round.
Woods is currently T16 in the field of 18 — he and Xander Schauffele are one shot ahead of Hideki Matsuyama (+2)
RELIVE TIGER’S FIRST ROUND AT THE HERO WORLD CHALLENGE WITH GOLF.COM’S LIVE BLOG
The defending champ has some work to do
After firing a blazing final round of 61 and coming from seven shots back to claim last year’s tournament, Rickie Fowler has some work to do if he hopes to defend his title after shooting an opening round of even par.
Fowler made the turn in one-over-par 37, and looked like he might be turning things around after back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15. But a double bogey on the par-4 16th negated his gains.
Fowler closed with another birdie on the 18th to get himself back to even par. He’s currently T13, seven shots behind Cantlay and Reed.
