Tiger Woods has shrugged off criticism for his bad-taste tampon prankrose above the lingering results of a near-fatal 2021 automobile crash and demonstrated as soon as once more why golf could by no means see its like once more.
In a shocking spherical on the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational he practically posted an albatross whereas capturing one of many lowest third-round scores to the delight of his huge gallery.
Woods jumped 32 spots up the leaderboard after carding a four-under-par 67 at Riviera, decrease than each different participant besides Denny McCarthy (64) and three-shot chief Jon Rahm (65).
The spherical left Woods tied 26th at three-under – 12 pictures behind Rahm – in his first begin of the season and all of the extra spectacular contemplating he performed solely 9 aggressive rounds final yr after sustaining traumatic accidents to his proper leg in a 2021 automobile accident .
Low expectations, excessive efficiency
Few might have probably anticipated a lot from Woods contemplating he completed his second spherical on Friday having bogeyed three of his ultimate 4 holes and made the lower on the quantity.
After which there was the distraction of the criticism he acquired for handing a tampon to Justin Thomas after out-driving him – a foul joke supposed to indicate his enjoying companion hits like a woman.
However regardless of the luggage he introduced into the match’s third spherical, Woods placed on a ball-striking show that included one eagle, three birdies and a bogey. It was additionally his lowest rating since he returned to motion after his automobile accident.
Woods, who began the spherical on the again 9, reached the flip at two beneath after birdies on his first and fifth holes earlier than turning issues up a notch.
The 15-times main champion delighted the gallery on the 509-yard, par-five first gap with a close to albatross when his second shot from 190 yards settled three ft from the cup to arrange a tap-in eagle.
Woods reached 5 beneath on the day when he drained an 11-foot birdie putt on the fifth gap earlier than giving a stroke again on the seventh, the place he missed the inexperienced along with his strategy shot.
‘A bit on the sore aspect’
When requested if this week’s efficiency may persuade him to play one other occasion forward of the April 6-9 Masters Woods, who admitted to feeling a “bit on the sore aspect”, didn’t rule out the likelihood.
“Hopefully, tomorrow exit and play one, put up this occasion, we’ll go forward and reassess every little thing and see the place we’re, see how I get well from a full match,” stated Woods.
“I have not achieved this shortly. The final time I did it was at The Open Championship, so it has been some time. Hopefully, the physique will nonetheless really feel good someday later subsequent week. As of proper now, restoration time will probably be enjoyable.”
– with AAP
