Tiger Woods returns to the PGA Tour at this week’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, which is also the site of his last Tour start, when he missed the cut at Torrey in 2017.
But there is (slightly) more optimism regarding Woods’s game this year, and as always there’s a ton of buzz surrounding the 14-time major winner’s return.
He started his pro-am round at 6:40 a.m. local time on the North Course on Wednesday and got off to a hot start, stuffing his approach on the par-4 opener and making birdie. He eventually would eagle the par-5 17th hole by way of a 25-foot putt and birdie the last to finish at two under in his final practice round before the Farmers begins on Thursday.
Eagle-Birdie finish. @TigerWoods is ready to go. pic.twitter.com/XoCdqzDzsh
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 24, 2018
Check out more highlights from his round below.
MORE: Farmers Insurance Open tee times, TV schedule
One hole.
One birdie. @TigerWoods birdied his opening hole in the @FarmersInsOpen pro-am. pic.twitter.com/OeIC9EdIIl— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 24, 2018
Tiger walking up the first with Tour commish Jay Monahan, who is likely the happiest man on the property this week. #TheGOATIsBack
— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
Even fellow players excited to watch Tiger early this morning. Top college stud Norman Xiong from Oregon (who is playing this week) out here. “Wouldn’t miss it!”
— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
First chip alert
Chipping off much easier grass than the Bahamas. Nips one to 4 feet.
— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
After rolling in par putt @TigerWoods -1 thru 2 in pro-am
— George Savaricas (@GeorgeSavaricas) January 24, 2018
After flying his tee shot on Par 3 3rd on North course pin high and rolling off green @TigerWoods with another solid chip shot to 5FT pic.twitter.com/VaGtZNB7Bs
— George Savaricas (@GeorgeSavaricas) January 24, 2018
Looking good, Tiger. pic.twitter.com/VQynbB1r79
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 24, 2018
Three missed greens in four holes but never more than a few feet off. Ain’t concerned.
— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
Another missed green and another chip within 5FT for @tigerwoods on 4 where he misses par putt and makes bogeys, he’s now E thru 4
— George Savaricas (@GeorgeSavaricas) January 24, 2018
Not exactly Position A on this par 5: pic.twitter.com/D3xUTaQoTP
— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
For those curious:
-1 thru 6 holes. Both of his birdies have come after stiffing his approach.
— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
No “yippy stuff” around the greens. Actually playing a nice variety of shots — high, low, spinny, soft. https://t.co/QkrhJjo6jd
— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
An ideal pitch.
A stress-free birdie. @TigerWoods finished Even on his first nine holes. pic.twitter.com/FWc0FtrD5R— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 24, 2018
Front-nine stats:
Score: E
Birdies: 3
Fairways: 3/7
Greens: 3/9
Putts: 12
Outfit changes: 2
Concern level: 0— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
Not grinding on any reads — so let’s not panic here — but he’s missed 4 putts inside 10 feet. Cruising around at 1 over thru 11.
— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
It’s a small thing, and I noticed it in the Bahamas, but Tiger doesn’t walk like a 70-year-old anymore. Brisk, lively, no limitations.
— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
#https://instagram.com/p/BeV5cq6FtEP/
Not like it’s been a miserable stretch, but haven’t seen a great shot since the 6th hole. Just kinda, like, playing golf.
— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
Now THAT was exciting! Playing from the right trees on 16, he tried to hit a punch shot but hit the base of the tree and ricocheted sideways. Nearly brained the crowd but no one injured.
— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
Eagle* on the par-5 17th — drops a 25-footer.
*Won’t help in the actual tourney, but still nice.
— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
OK, let’s get this thing started.
Eagle on 17. Just put his approach on the 485-yard 18th to 2 feet.
LET’S GOOOOOOOO
— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
Stats aren’t necessarily pretty, but trust me when I say his misses weren’t off by much — a few yards here or there. That’s why his score was still decent.
Score: -1
Fairways: 6/14
Greens: 7/18
Putts: 25
Winces: 0
Readiness:— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
Just buttoning something up: Tiger shot -2 in the pro-am, not -1. Forgot that No. 10 was a par 5, so he made par there. Hey, I'm rusty, too!
Carry on.
— GC Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) January 24, 2018
