Tiger Woods Battles Through Challenges on Day 1 of the 18th Hole

In the golfing world, Tiger Woods is known for his resilience and ability to overcome obstacles.

As he stood on the 18th tee at Hole 18, covering a vast 4,459 yards, Woods made a strategic move, adjusting his stance and preparing for the challenge that lay ahead.

The day concluded with him making a solid performance, hitting 6 fairways out of 13, particularly showcasing his defensive skills in the previous nine rounds.

Though the initial three hours didn’t reveal much, the fourth hour of Tiger’s golf showcased several shots indicating signs of fatigue. It’s crucial to remind ourselves that golf is a marathon, not a sprint, and scoring on this particular day wasn’t as straightforward as in previous rounds.

After a 310-yard drive, Tiger secured his second spot at around 25 feet from the 18th hole. Predictions suggested he would only hit 10 greens today, but his approach to the green was as impressive as it was at the start of the round.

Despite narrowly missing a birdie attempt, he finished with a 3-over 75 score.

As Tiger and Thomas shared a moment on the 18th, both wearing smiles, Thomas played exceptionally well with a 2-under 70, reducing his three-over score after four overs. Woods faced a challenging line, predicting 4 birdies, 5 bogies, 1 double, 8 pars, and finishing at 3-over 75.

Yet, the smile persisted, indicating he continues to advance well and looks forward to another opportunity on Friday.

Summary of Tiger’s 3-over round:

6 out of 13 fairways hit
Precision in 10 out of 18 greens

Moving on to Hole 17, a par-3 spanning 191 yards, Tiger’s tee shot didn’t meet expectations. Despite falling short by approximately 15 yards, his influence on the green was evident.

A birdie attempt from about 50 feet saw him landing approximately 6 feet ahead, missing the comeback from the left edge. Another bogey in the last three holes brought him to 4 over for the final four overs.

A quick reality check: While Tiger may not have looked great in the last 40 minutes, there are several reasons for optimism. His pace is good, glimpses of his prowess in short game were evident, and most importantly, his stride still looks good after nearly four hours of play.
The remainder of the competitors need to be on high alert.

Summary of Tiger’s performance from 3-over to 17:

5 out of 12 fairways hit
Accuracy in 9 out of 17 greens

Moving to Hole 16, a par-4 spanning 476 yards, Tiger faced a challenge with his tee shot landing in the fairway bunker.

After a good contact in the bunker, he missed the green with another shot from the rough, leading to an uphill battle for par.

As the round concludes, Tiger, now fatigued, faces the challenge of completing such a lengthy round, and his ability to finish will remain a question surrounded by uncertainties.

With another bogey, his effort now slips to the lower level, and Tiger finds himself at 2-over par, with two bogeys in the last two holes. Despite many solid shots today, he doesn’t seem entirely pleased in the last half-hour.

The journey continues for Tiger Woods, full of ups and downs, as he heads into the next round on Friday. Stay tuned!

From the 2nd to the 16th hole,
5/12 Fairway Hits; 8/16 Regulation Greens

Hole 15 (Par 5, 554 Yards):

Oh no! Tiger hits a wild tee shot on the 15th, leaving the ball in the rough. So far, the only bad blow in this group has been by Thomas on the 4th, tripling it. But Tiger could be lucky here on the 15th with his adventurous shot. We can’t say for sure if he’s in the woods or not.

Woods faces challenges on the 15th, where a careless left tee shot is stuck on the edge of a big thicket. He tries to get it out but only inches forward. Now, contemplating going left with his second shot, he instead pitches it back into the fairway. It might go in many ways.

The relief for Woods on the 15th is that it’s a par 5, so if he somehow gets it near the green and then up and down, he’ll save a bogey.

His 3-wood fourth shot comes down nicely just below and to the right of the green for an easy par save.

On the 15th, Woods faces such a tricky pitch that leaves him with about a 12-foot bogey putt. It’s his first truly bad hole in this 3 1/2-hour round. He taps his bogey putt slightly to the left, ending up 1-over for a double-bogey on 7.

From the 1st to the 15th hole,
5/11 Fairway Hits; 8/15 Regulation Greens

Hole 14 (Par 4, 310 Yards):

A manageable par-4 on the 14th gives a run, but his 297-yard tee shot lands on the right bank standing in a ruthless first bounce. This gives him an 84-yard pitch shot. Just half a foot.

Tiger’s sporty pitch on the 14th leaves him just 3 feet away for a birdie.

Woods rolls another birdie with his short game on the short par-4 14th, taking him back to 1-under for the day. Both Thomas and Straka have handled it well, 5-under, the best score.

From 1-under to the 14th hole,
5/10 Fairway Hits; 8/14 Regulation Greens

Hole 13 (Par 4, 514 Yards):

No room for an average tee shot on the 514-yard, par-4 13th, and Tiger struggles with his 334-yard drive, finding it difficult on the left rough. A good, aggressive pass on the ball results in a birdie at 13, leaving himself about 20 feet away.

If you’re thinking about his first start in ’24, he hosts the Genesis Invitational at Riviera, and while it’s a signature event, it has five exemptions. It’s speculated that with a win, he’ll have an inside track.

Now, we’re on the mark for Tiger’s round, three hours in, revealing a challenge he’s never seen in his prime: endurance. His ability to finish the round after early duels will be an open question.

Woods’ birdie attempt from 15 feet falls short, and he returns to even par, trailing Finau and Harman by five at 13. Woods partners with Thomas and Straka, all five players at even.

Tiger Woods, returning to the Bahamian shores, should ring the bell. He has done it before.

Woods has worked as a real test field for the 82-time PGA Tour winner as the host of the Hero World Challenge, bouncing back from numerous setbacks.
And he’s poised to replicate this feat once more in the upcoming week.

The Hero World Challenge hosted by Woods has functioned as a real test field for the 82-time PGA Tour winner, overcoming numerous setbacks.
And he’s poised to replicate this feat once more in the upcoming week.

Master of the 15-time major winner, Woods will turn 48 next month and hasn’t played at the Hero since 2019—a tournament he has won five times.

Woods shortened his 18-hole pro-am on Wednesday, opting to play only the front nine at Albany Golf Club to conserve energy. He has played only five tournaments since his car accident in 2021 and has completed a full 72 holes only twice.

Woods said, “I’m excited to compete and play, and I’m eager to see what happens because I haven’t done it in a while, just like all of you.”