Some feats, many mistakes, a lot of effort and tiredness.
It was a complicated return to competition for Tiger Woods in a PGA Tour tournament. Ten months after his exit in the third round of the Masters, the 15-time Major champion finished the first round of the Genesis Invitational in California in 49th place with a score of 72 (+1) hits.
On the Riviera Country Club course (par 71), where he made his debut on the amateur circuit in 1992, at the age of 16, Woods made five birdies, with six bogeys.
"I certainly didn't show regularity on the court, I will work hard to improve. My back is now fused and my body is sore. But it was to be expected", declared "The Big Cat" who ended a streak of three consecutive scores under par , which had lasted since 2018, in the opening round of an event.
At Pacific Palisades, Patrick Cantlay leads the league with 64 (-7) shots.
Ironically, the Californian, number 7 in the world, has Joe La Cava, Woods' historic assistant, as his caddy.
Cantaly, protagonist with a test supported by eight birdies and stained by a bogey, signed his lowest round in the 29 played in his career at the Genesis Invitational.
Behind him, just one shot away, all 2/s with 65 (-6), a trio of chasers made up of the American Luke List and the Australians Jason Day and Cameron Davis.
While in 5th position with 66 (-5) here are the Americans Tom Hoge, Jordan Spieth and Will Zalatoris.
In 10th position with 68 (-3) there are, among others, Scottie Scheffler, leader of the world ranking, and the Swede LudvigAberg, a budding talent in world golf.
False start for Rory McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman, number 2 in the world ranking, is 64/o with 74 (+3).
After the first 11 holes played, where he made three birdies (four in total), the emblem of European golf dirtied his card with two bogeys and as many double bogeys.
The 2024 Genesis Invitational features 70 competitors.
A prize pool of 20,000,000 dollars is up for grabs, of which 4,000,000 will go to the winner.
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