Tiger Grinds His Ass Off For An Even Par 72

Kind of a weird round of golf for Tiger. It was just his second start in an official Tour event in 3 years, so anything pain-free is a massive success. Tiger started with a bogey on Torrey South Course’s 1st hole after yank/pulling his tee shot; he’s struggled there forever, making 3 doubles during the 2008 US Open. He was 2-over through 5 before roasting a 4-iron from 252 and an easy two-putt birdie.

It was a weird round because he hit a lot of shitty irons and he’s the best iron player that ever lived. He missed the 13th green from inside 100 yards. But Tiger’s Tiger — he can go out there, struggle, hit it all over the place, miss both left and right on an Open track, and post a very respectable number.

The chipping was a concern after the Bahamas, but he was solid around the greens today. Not great but solid. It’s mostly long grass and not the short, tight stuff that gave him trouble at Albany, but still. Several good chips and green side bunker shots kept him in it, then this on 16.

Almost ran and dove right through my fucking window. If that went in they it was alarm-sounding time at Augusta National — get Big Dick Eldrick’s jacket ready. Barely missed, but a tap-in birdie and an even par 72 despite not making a putt outside 5 feet feels like incredible progress from where we were a few months ago. Because it is incredible progress.

And…. healthy? Yep. We good. Successful.

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Plenty to build on.

Tiger’s back at 12:30 pm ET tomorrow.