Tiger Woods spent his first nine holes Thursday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational still shaking off rust from his eight-month absence from competitive golf. But he eventually reminded everyone that he has won 14 majors.
Playing before a large crowd that came to Bay Hill largely to see him and playing partner Padraig Harrington, Woods overcame his poor early ball-striking to record four straight birdies on the back nine and shoot a 2-under 68.
“I didn’t hit the ball particularly well,” Woods said. “I just kind of held it together, and that’s a good thing. It’s a good sign.”
Woods has tried to rebuild his game since he returned to the PGA Tour on Feb. 25. After Thursday’s first round, he felt encouraged because his short game carried him while his accuracy off the tee and on the fairways failed him. He’s just three shots behind leader Jason Gore, who shot a 65.
Woods came to a turning point on the par-4 ninth. After his first two shots, he found himself in the rough 85 feet from the pin, and he looked like he might bogey the hole. But he landed his approach to 13 feet and sank the putt to save par.
Woods kept that momentum going on the back nine, recording birdies on 11, 12, 13 and 14.
Harrington and Woods’ other playing partner, Mark Wilson, felt the electricity.
“The ‘Tiger is back!’ comment was probably the most popular comment I heard,” Wilson said.
Woods and Harrington have combined to win five of the last six majors, but Harrington didn’t match Woods on Thursday. The Irishman finished with an even-par 70. Jeff Overton and former tournament champion Tim Herron shot 4-under 66s . A group of six players — including Wilson — shot 67s.
“Playing golf is so much more enjoyable now,” said Woods, who had knee pain when he won last year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational and finally had surgery after his U.S. Open title. “The pain that I had to deal with day in and day out, that part wasn’t [fun].”
