Golf superstar Tiger Woods made a successful comeback on the US tour in Los Angeles – and got better and better.
The 15-time major winner needed 69 shots in the first round at the Genesis Invitational in Pacific Palisades, Calif., and is tied for 27th with two under par.
“I finally got some good shots and some putts too,” said Woods: “Even though I had a little mishap on the 10, I was able to fight back and get the game going again. It was a nice finish.”
Three birdies in a row
The 47-year-old felt better and better as the round progressed and birdied on each of the last three holes.
The numerous fans were enthusiastic about Wood’s comeback. Already at the first tee, the spectators cheered the superstar and chanted “Tiger! Tiger”.
Long-term consequences of a car accident
For Woods, who couldn’t fully devote himself to the adoring fans, it was “a lot louder” than he expected. “I probably should have appreciated the fans more than I did but there was so much going on in my head trying to hit the ball in the right places and with the right feeling because I haven’t done that in a while done more,” Woods explained. He wants to treat his injured leg with ice all night.
Last year, Woods had only made nine tournament starts as he continued to recover from injuries sustained in a car accident in February 2021. The US star had been on the tee for the last time last summer at the British Open in St. Andrews.