Roundup: Tiger Returns In Thrilling Style, Fades To 73
This comeback was definitely different in tone. Just look at Doug Ferguson's list of previous Tiger Woods comebacks and you recall how many were forced, premature or just downright edgy. 
This time around anyone with an ounce of soul did not want to see another boondoggle. Mercifully for golf and Tiger, the 14-time major winner put on a strong early show before succumbing to the fatigue of a hot day, enormous pressure and a lack of tournament seasoning after a long layoff.
Of course, in classic Tiger fashion, he refused to admit to fatigue. That might just be the best evidence he's his ownself again.
Jason Sobel noted this classic stubbornness in his account for ESPN.com:
This was a textbook round for someone who hadn't played in a while: Make a few nervy pars just to ease away the tension; ride the wave of adrenaline up the leaderboard; get overtaken by fatigue down the stretch.
If we needed further proof, though, of Woods' return to familiarity, it came after the round, when he wouldn't acquiesce to that last observation.
He was asked a reasonable question about whether he'd run out of gas before making those two doubles.
"I wouldn't say that," he offered. "I just made some mistakes."
Michael Collins, talking to Sportscenter, also pointed out that post-round, Tiger did not come across as someone physically compromised.
Will Gray at GolfChannel.com makes the shrewd point that the strong start to the round makes this a much better feeling 73 than one in which Woods was just so-so all day.
Had Woods more evenly dispersed his scorecard, had one of his closing doubles instead come amid the three-birdie run that highlighted his opening nine, perhaps the tinge of disappointment might have evaporated. But he didn’t, and they didn’t, and a 73 is more difficult to stomach after Woods appeared on his way to something in the mid-60s.
In case you have a real job and missed it, here is Golf Channel's highlight package.
Alan Shipnuck, writing for Golf.com, offers his overall assessment as a long time Tiger observer, some more elaborate comments from former swing coach Hank Haney and this on the first tee mood scene:
He was dressed in a badass all-black ensemble, befitting the high noon tee time. The World Challenge is a mostly meaningless hit-and-giggle event, but the tee was crowded with reporters, cameramen and assorted rubberneckers. The most dominant golfer of all time does not have the luxury of easing back into competition. The mood was tense, even fraught. As Woods settled over the ball, waggling his discordant new TaylorMade driver, it was so funereal quiet you could hear decorative flags flapping in the distance.
Former swing coach Haney also offered this Tweet:
From what I saw today I see Tiger winning more tournaments and at least one more major, lot's of positives today.
— Hank Haney (@HankHaney) December 1, 2016
Steve DiMeglio of USA Today saw enough to declare more wins in Tiger's future.
As long as his body — and especially his back — holds up, Woods will lift championship hardware again. Doesn’t matter if he’ll turn 41 on Dec. 31. The game’s needle will trigger appreciative cheers in trophy ceremonies on the 18th green in the future.
Another longtime Tiger watcher who has seen his share of antics, also had a positive assessment.
Jeff Babineau at Golfweek includes a lot of Tiger playing partner Patrick "Pat" Reed, as well as this:
Cool to see, yes. Tiger Woods, back in action, the round moving like a movie reel, giving us glimpses of the familiar. He pounded a drive 20 yards past Reed, a long knocker, at the third, and roped a 5-iron from 235 yards on the same hole that soared through the air on a string. He enjoyed that one. The ball would run out over the green, but it gave Woods some confidence. When he poured in a 16-foot left-to-righter at the short 14th to save par after being in a sandy area AND a bunker, there was a fist pump. The adrenaline was pumping.
And for Tigerphiles, in case you missed it, Mike Johnson filed an interesting GolfDigest.com look at what it's like to work with Tiger when he's club testing.
Tiger tees off at 11:12 am ET Friday, with Morning Drive and Golf Central bringing early play highlights before the 1 pm telecast.
Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 07:51 PM
Reader Comments (40)
Surely 5 irons which finish over the green are bad shots, not to be "enjoyed"?
He can certainly take away some positives - but his driver remains the big problem. 6/13 fairways on a resort course is just not going to cut it.
Moving forward assuming his body holds up my biggest question will be if he can start scoring better than he hits it like he did in his prime and players like Spieth are doing now. Yesterday he scored worse than he hit it. As I have aged with my own game that seems to be a theme with the 40 somethings on tour. They still can hit it very well they just don't score as well which usually means short game. For Tiger to win again he will have to get that part of his game in order. Glad to see him using his favorite putter again.
Not sure anyone really expected much more than that from a near 41-year old (29 days), with multiple back surgeries in his first appearance in 15 months. He did look tired...but not sure why, he should be the "freshest" guy out there. Expect him to handle his round a little better in round 2 now that the lid is off and there is little pressure for him to actually win. After all, this is really nothing more than a picnic for these guys, a glorified exhibition with some large "appearance fees" and crazy world ranking offerings.
I'll try to dial in today to see if anyone is giggling or having a picnic.
Guys like Spieth and Day will make it all the harder. He won't get any majors gift wrapped like the 2005 Masters.
I do hope though that he can find whatever inner peace he's looking for....he has a long life ahead of him.
Rosie says it was like the good old days when only one golfer mattered.
These guys can't help themselves.
And it's interesting that Tiger's playing alone. This could really help him. Like being at the range or a practice round. Doesn't have to compare his shots to others.
Looks like he's gained about 3 pounds since he turned 30 too.
Whatever he does, enjoy it, for it won't last much longer. He is only human.
All of what you say is true. However, it must be said that (a) there were only a couple of rounds better than his today, (b) no chipping yips, (c) no big misses, (d) shots being shaped both ways including drawing the driver, which he simply wasn't doing at all in 2015 and (e) mot importantly, the return of the Scotty Cameron and with it rock solid putting. I just read today that Nike may have leveraged the scandal to force the Nike putter in Tiger's bag. I've always wondered why he went away from the Scottie and if the last two days have been any indication, it may have a dramatic effect on his putting going forward.
Of course, I don't want to get carried away, for all the reasons you say. It's the lowest rank of competition. We have to wait to see how he handles a full field event with a real field on a real course. But I have to say, what I have seen is a lot better than what I expected to see.
Today, was better. No big errors and the score was much better.
Big positive: putting looks pretty spot on.
If he can avoid a big mistake off the tee he's good; but that's not the swing thought to have.
if Tiger did take the Nike putter against his wishes for loads of dollars ( which I doubt ) then tough luck. Many look for a pass with Tiger, blaming the media, Nike, etc. Think about Nicklaus who had to change clubs and balls every time he played the Open. One shouldn't feel sorry for Tiger Woods, he went into professional golf with his eyes wide open.
Great round Tiger, good luck tomorrow.
Since the media are covering every minute detail about his game, what about the rest? Wasn't the new love interest to be introduced? Since he seems "okay",for now, they probably don't want to disrupt the vibe. I had him pegged for a brunette this time. Along the lines of the Ship Sticks lady with two sets rather than another blond. If anyone needed a change of luck it was him. Oh well, maybe they should ask Matsuyama. I haven't been able to determine if his regular caddie stayed home and he opted to bring one to an island paradise that would help him out of his kimono at night.
Let's see what the next two days bring and then you will have a better idea of where is game is and if it is ready for the rigors of the TOUR.
And yes HOD, this is a picnic for these guys. This is a 'silly season' type event with a lot of guaranteed cash. They may have the competitive juices flowing a bit, but this is an all-win, no-lose event for these guys. The way you get around not paying appearance fees, if have a limited field and invite a few of your buddies, with last place paying a mere $100K , and call it a tournament and hand out a bunch of world ranking points - fat cats getting fatter. Picnic for these guys, nothing more.
First prize of this event is $1,000,000 and it's guaranteed that after an opening round 64 JB Holmes was giving it everything he had today--Tiger made up 8 shots on him. In this event there have only been 3 rounds better than Tiger's 65 today, JB's 64 yesterday, Bubba and Brandt's 63 and 64 today.
As Slouch says, what's not to like?
I'm not suggesting anyone feel sorry for Tiger. I'm speculating as to why his putting went south and why he would ever have moved away from the Scottie.
All good though.
My take is the pressure got too much on his putting trying to save his score from the rest of his game, rather than his choice of putter.
As you say, all good.
Nicklaus did it too, you can read about it here http://golfweek.com/2009/11/25/looking-back-macgregors-golf-balls/
Nicklaus did have different equipment it is true, the difference is it didn't stop him winning.
If Nike woods and putters were the best for Tiger and Rory they would still be using them, period.
As for Nicklaus, there was a reason he and other players teed off with the MacGregor Tourney ball and then switched after one hole, they knew they couldn't win with it.
http://golfweek.com/2009/11/25/looking-back-macgregors-golf-balls/
“They sold a better ball at Woolworth’s (discount retail stores),” said Jack Wullkotte, a 20-year veteran clubmaker with MacGregor and Nicklaus’ longtime personal repairman. He said several staff players – including Demaret, Mike Souchak and Bob Toski – resorted to trickery to avoid using the ball. In order to pass muster with the Darrell Survey report, which tracks equipment usage at professional events, and fulfill their contractual obligation, they teed off with a MacGregor Tourney ball and switched to another brand’s model after they finished the first hole. (The one-ball rule wasn’t in effect in that era.)
Round but irons looked sharp