Tiger Woods had a tough time at Riviera even when healthy

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tiger Woods made it by means of 16 holes of his pro-am Wednesday on the Genesis Invitational on a bitterly chilly morning with occasional 25 mph gusts that made the temperature really feel just like the higher 30s.

What mattered, not less than for now, was how he completed. He didn’t play the final two holes at Riviera, however after shaking arms along with his beginner companions, he had no hassle climbing the 52 steps that result in the clubhouse.

There might be no stopping on Thursday when Woods competes towards a full area of the world’s greatest gamers for the primary time since lacking the lower at St. Andrews within the British Open.

The plantar fasciitis that stored him from taking part in within the Bahamas in December is doing higher. He stated his ankle, badly injured from his February 2021 automobile crash outdoors Los Angeles, is his largest concern. There’s additionally that matter of rust.

“However I’ve come off a rusty scenario earlier than and I’ve completed nicely,” Woods stated Tuesday throughout his information convention.

He returned from knee surgical procedure on the finish of 2002 and received in his first begin at Torrey Pines. He as soon as took 10 weeks off after the 2007 tour season ended and received his World Problem by seven pictures.

He was youthful, more healthy and in his prime. His swing appears to be like as environment friendly as ever, significantly along with his irons. For Woods, it’s about attending to the following shot on a pair of legs which have been battered over time.

After which there’s the matter of the golf course.

Riviera is amongst his favourite designs, however the love affair ends there. Woods stopped taking part in this match after 2006, primarily as a result of he hardly ever had good outcomes. He alluded to that when he talked about his preparation for the Genesis Invitational.

“Plus, I do know this golf course,” he stated, pausing to smile earlier than including, “I do know I haven’t had a number of success on this golf course. However I knew what to apply for, pictures to hit at residence preparing.”

It truly is a thriller.

Woods has by no means performed extra instances on a PGA Tour course with out profitable — 11 appearances at Riviera as a professional, with just one likelihood at profitable. That was in 1999, when he tied for second, two pictures behind Ernie Els.

Most telling was his biggest stretch in golf. From the top of August 1999 by means of March the next yr, Woods both received or completed second in 10 out of the 11 PGA Tour occasions he performed.

The exception? He tied for 18th at Riviera.

“This can be an anomaly, and the one one in his complete profession possibly,” stated Adam Scott, who has two wins and two runner-up finishes at Riviera. “It’s a bit of bit unexplainable. I don’t know what to say about that. Over his profession, there’s been solely strengths, actually. This course is sort of demanding from the second shot in, and he’s actually able to dealing with it.

“I don’t know if he simply doesn’t really feel it right here or what it’s,” Scott added. “However I’ll share some ideas with him if he shares some recommendations on win a couple of majors with me.”

The problem for everybody Wednesday was the chilly and wind, although that is likely to be the worst of it. It was gusting to 25 mph (40 kph) within the morning. Woods hit driver and a fairway metallic into the frigid wind on the 458-yard ninth gap and plugged in a entrance bunker, some 10 yards in need of reaching the inexperienced.

That elicited little greater than giggle, and one other one adopted when he blasted out proper as a ball from one in every of his amateurs zipped close to his legs and into the bunker.

“Lot occurring right here,” Woods stated with a chuckle.

The sphere is the strongest of the yr thus far with a $20 million purse, although Riviera is so pure it at all times attracted the very best gamers. Nineteen of the highest 20 on this planet rating are taking part in (Woods is No. 1,294), the exception being Cameron Smith, who’s suspended for signing with the Saudi-funded rival league at LIV Golf.

Additionally lacking is Joaquin Niemann, the defending champion, who joined LIV Golf in August. Woods is the match host of the Genesis Invitational and offered Niemann with the trophy final yr.

He wish to take residence the trophy himself, even towards such lengthy odds.

Max Homa obtained the trophy from Woods two years in the past, probably the greatest reminiscences he’s ever had as a man who grew up within the LA space and who grew up idolizing Woods.

Learn how to clarify Woods not profitable at Riviera given his elegant iron play? Homa discovered himself making an attempt to reply that whereas taking part in the course Wednesday.

“It makes completely no sense,” Homa stated.

He considered programs Woods has dominated, comparable to Bay Hill, the place the second shot is so crucial, like at Riviera.

“So if you come right here … I’d have thought he received 10 instances,” Homa stated. “That one’s a thriller to me. This looks as if it will be a playground to him.”

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