NASSAU, Bahamas: Tiger Woods, returning from a 16-month layoff following back surgery, teed off first but alone and in last place in Friday’s second round of the Hero World Challenge after England’s Justin Rose pulled out.
Rose, who captured Olympic gold at Rio in August, withdrew with a bad back after shooting a two-over-par 74 in Thursday’s opening round of the 18-man invitational event at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas.
Former world No.1 Woods, a 14-time major winner who has slid to 898th in the rankings, stumbled to an opening 73 Thursday to end a 466-day layoff, the longest idle spell of his career.
Woods, who turns 41 later this month, began four under through eight holes Thursday to share the lead but closed with double bogeys on two of the last three holes.
That set him up to play alongside Rose in round two, but instead Woods went off solo in cloudy, warm and windy conditions with about 200 people watching and promptly birdied the 423-yard opening hole.
Starting solo was not a first for Woods, who went off first and alone in the final round of last year’s Memorial tournament after firing a career-worst 85 the day before. Woods shot a two-over 74 in that solo effort.
“All in all, I feel pretty good,” Woods said Thursday. “I let a really good round slip away at the end.”
As for the late collapse in round one, Woods blamed that on shot-making errors rather than fatigue.
“I just made some really silly mistakes, mistakes I don’t normally make, but I haven’t played in a while,” Woods said. “We’ve got three more days. Wind is supposed to pump on the weekend and I’ll be playing a little bit better.”
Dodt holds halfway lead
Australia’s Andrew Dodt fired a five-under 67 to hold a two-shot halfway lead in the Australian PGA Championship with Adam Scott making his move at the Royal Pines Resort Friday.
Overnight leader Dodt fought his way to the top of the leader board after Ashley Hall carded a three-under 69 to be the early clubhouse leader.
Dodt holed six birdies and a bogey in the lowest round of the day to get to 12 under and lead at the halfway stage of the European Tour co-sanctioned event.
World No.7and 2013 US Masters champion Adam Scott surged home in 32 for a second consecutive round of 68 to be at eight under and four strokes behind Dodt.
New Zealander Ryan Fox was in joint third with Scott after a three-under 69 and a shot clear of American Harold Varner III, who carded a par 72.
Dodt, who has made just seven of 20 cuts this season, is chasing his third European Tour title.
Rose, who captured Olympic gold at Rio in August, withdrew with a bad back after shooting a two-over-par 74 in Thursday’s opening round of the 18-man invitational event at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas.
Former world No.1 Woods, a 14-time major winner who has slid to 898th in the rankings, stumbled to an opening 73 Thursday to end a 466-day layoff, the longest idle spell of his career.
Woods, who turns 41 later this month, began four under through eight holes Thursday to share the lead but closed with double bogeys on two of the last three holes.
That set him up to play alongside Rose in round two, but instead Woods went off solo in cloudy, warm and windy conditions with about 200 people watching and promptly birdied the 423-yard opening hole.
Starting solo was not a first for Woods, who went off first and alone in the final round of last year’s Memorial tournament after firing a career-worst 85 the day before. Woods shot a two-over 74 in that solo effort.
“All in all, I feel pretty good,” Woods said Thursday. “I let a really good round slip away at the end.”
As for the late collapse in round one, Woods blamed that on shot-making errors rather than fatigue.
“I just made some really silly mistakes, mistakes I don’t normally make, but I haven’t played in a while,” Woods said. “We’ve got three more days. Wind is supposed to pump on the weekend and I’ll be playing a little bit better.”
Dodt holds halfway lead
Australia’s Andrew Dodt fired a five-under 67 to hold a two-shot halfway lead in the Australian PGA Championship with Adam Scott making his move at the Royal Pines Resort Friday.
Overnight leader Dodt fought his way to the top of the leader board after Ashley Hall carded a three-under 69 to be the early clubhouse leader.
Dodt holed six birdies and a bogey in the lowest round of the day to get to 12 under and lead at the halfway stage of the European Tour co-sanctioned event.
World No.7and 2013 US Masters champion Adam Scott surged home in 32 for a second consecutive round of 68 to be at eight under and four strokes behind Dodt.
New Zealander Ryan Fox was in joint third with Scott after a three-under 69 and a shot clear of American Harold Varner III, who carded a par 72.
Dodt, who has made just seven of 20 cuts this season, is chasing his third European Tour title.
