Tiger — who started on the back nine and played with Adam Scott (+1) and Keegan Bradley (-2) — briefly moved under par with a vintage birdie on the par-5 7th. But, he finished bogey-bogey on the par-3 8th and par-4 9th — a result of sloppy three-putts.
“It was a grind today, certainly,” said Tiger, who won the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla. “It wasn’t the way I like to finish off rounds. But, long way to go, and we’ll see what happens.”
“I three-whipped the last two holes. Wasn’t very good. Bad speed on 8; whipped it past the hole. And 9, hit it short. Hit it off the heel of the putt and blocked the second one. So wasn’t very good on the last two holes.”
The 15-time major champion bogeyed the par 3 11th, but soon moved back to even with an 18-foot birdie on the par-4 13th. On the par-4 12th, Tiger salvaged a wayward drive into the deep rough with a slick 8-iron punch out onto the green. He sank the 15-footer — amid a run of three straight clutch one-putts.
https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1791151898021794185
“Just an 8-iron,” he said after with a smile. “Easy par.”
Tiger’s driver and long irons — key clubs at the monster venue in Louisville — were predictably rusty, but his short game reflected the practice time he’s afforded at home. A bright moment came on the par-3 3rd, when he stuck his iron off the tee within a few feet of the cup and drilled the birdie.
Tiger also missed makeable putts on the par-4 4th and par-4 5th.
“I am getting stronger for sure,” said Tiger. “It’s just that I just don’t play a whole lot of competitive rounds. I haven’t played since the Masters. So it’s a little bit different than being at home and playing a flat Florida course.”
At time of writing, Tiger ranks 108th in the field in strokes gained: off the tee, 56th in SG: putting, and 34th in SG: approach. He hit nine of 14 fairways on Thursday.
Woods is 10 strokes behind leader Xander Schauffele (-9), who tied the major championship record (again) with an opening-round 62.
Valhalla is one of the lengthier courses on the PGA Tour schedule, though the walk, while undulated, isn’t nearly as hilly as Augusta National. Tiger will enjoy a full 24-hour break between when he concluded his opening round and his 1:29 p.m. ET tee time on Friday.
