Tiger Woods shoots an opening round of 75 at the Hero World Challenge
It’s seven months and 236 days since Tiger Woods played his last professional event at The Masters. Professional golf has plenty of world class stars but nothing beats watching Woods. Woods is and the organiser of the 20 man Hero World Challenge field. Woods assembled a good field which included 2023 FedEx Cup winner Viktor Hovland, major winners Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler and 2023 The Open champion Brian Harman.
The 15 time major winner played his first round with his good friend Thomas. It’s incredible that Woods is still able to walk and play golf considering the amount of injuries he’s had over the last few years. Woods got off to a fantastic start as he hit his opening tee shot 326 yards a solid iron shot and just missed the putt for birdie. Short game is usually the part of your game that takes time to perfect after not playing but Woods holed a excellent 12 foot putt for par at the second hole. Woods took advantage of the par five third with a birdie but followed it up with a bogey before bouncing back with a birdie at the fifth hole.
Woods found the green in three at the par five sixth but hit his birdie effort too hard and missed the putt back for par. Woods kept the momentum in his favour as he got up and down for par at the seventh hole. The ninth hole is a par five but Woods missed the fairway and had125 yards for his third shot. He misjudged the spin but managed to escape with a par. Two birdies, five pars and two bogeys as Woods shot a front nine of level par.
The 11th hole is a par five and Woods had 149 yards for his third shot. He found the green and Woods holed a long range putt for birdie. The 12th is a 187 yard par three and Woods was unsuccessful in achieving a par. Woods ended up near the green with his tee shot at the 310 yard par four 14th. Woods played an extraordinary chip shot and made the putt for birdie.
The 15th is a 555 yard par five and Woods missed the fairway after a bad tee shot. His ball was near a bush and Woods attempted to play a shot instead of taken an unplayable. It took Woods two shots to find the fairway. Woods fourth shot at the 15th ended up short of the green and ended this hole with a double bogey. Woods played 15th, 16th and 17th hole in four over.
Woods found the fairway with a good tee shot at the 18th hole. His second shot finished at the front of the green. Woods finished with a par and signed for an opening round of three over. Woods hit multiple great tee shots but made mistakes near the end of his round. Woods is only eight behind going into day two. There is no cut in this tournament and it will be good for Woods to play four competitive rounds.