Whether he’s driving a tee shot into the woods (“I played the wrong shot there”) or rediscovering magic with his short game (“It’s my strength again”), at least one thing about Tiger Woods remained a constant Thursday: He’s great theater.
The world’s 111th-ranked player shooting 1 over par shouldn’t be one of the focal points in the first round of the Masters. In many ways, this day should belong to golf’s potential next comet, Jordan Spieth, who birdied nine holes and has comfy three-shot lead at 8 under par.
Or Jason Day stringing together five consecutive birdies on the back nine, the former Georgia Bulldog Russell Henley sitting at 4 under, or Charley Hoffman shooting 5 under, which led to the question: Who’s Charley Hoffman?
But Woods, as evidenced by the throng of fans that followed him in near 90-degree temperatures, remained must-see golf. It didn’t matter if he was good or bad because the truth is he was both. Elements of his short game improved, particularly chipping, but he left several putts short and inconsistent off the tee.
“I hit the ball well enough to shoot three under par,” Woods said after his 73, his first Masters round in two years. “Our entire group was really struggling with the greens’ pace. We had a hard time hitting putts hard enough.”
It had been nine weeks after he walked off the course following 11 holes in San Diego with back problems and a deteriorating game. His last win came in August 2013, and he has completed only two of seven tournaments since last year.
His previous Masters’ title: 10 years ago.
There were moments Thursday that reminded us that today’s Woods can still play in spurts like yesterday’s Woods. But there also were moments that today’s Woods … is still today’s Woods.
His day? Strap yourselves in.
(Bad) Woods three-putts on the first hole to start the day with a bogey.
I’m immediately reminded of something his former swing coach, Hank Haney, said a week ago: “People focus on his chipping, but that’s not the only minus. He was 186th last year in greens in regulation, 168th in driving accuracy, 169th in three-putt avoidance. Pick any one of those, they’re all areas of concern.”
(Good) A nice wedge sets up a 4-foot birdie putt on No. 2.
I’m immediately reminded of another Haney quote: “He’s got the memory of greatness. He’s got the memory of winning. If things can turn around a little for him, he can turn the switch on that quickly.”
Or he can blow a circuit breaker …
(Bad) He misses a 2-foot birdie putt on No. 3.
(Good) He chips to within five feet of the hole to set up a birdie on No. 8. But…
(Bad) On the ninth hole, his tee shot sails into the forest and nestles in pine straw between trees. Woods: “I played the wrong shot. The hole’s playing short. It’s hot. Ball’s flying.” Bad shot. Two-putt. Bogey.
(If you’re feeling a little queasy about now, feel free to step off the ride and proceed down the ramp.)
(Bad) Yeah, about those tee shots: On No. 12, Woods drops one into Rae’s Creek. Bogey to go to 2 over.
(Good) Woods takes advantage of one of the par-5s on No. 13 with a great second shot, setting up a birdie. Back to 1 over. But…
(Bad/good) Woods blows the advantage of a par-5 on No. 15 when he hits his tee shot into the pine straw (again). But he scrambles to save par and eventually cards a 73.
From Jimmy Walker, who played in his group: “He played OK. He had a couple wild shots. We all did. So there was nothing big. … It’s probably not what he wanted.”
Woods was asked later about the confidence he oozed before the tournament and whether his round had changed his expectation level. He seemed surprised by the question.
“I’m still in it. I’m only nine back, and we’ve got a long way to go,” Woods said. “We don’t know what the Masters is going to do, what they’re going to do to the greens or the golf course.”
He’ll likely have to adjust again. This was progress, even if well short of what Woods hoped for. But good or bad, he wasn’t dull.
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