Fourteen-time Major winner Tiger Woods showed glimpses of his former self when he made his comeback at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, but he stumbled at the end of the first round to card a one-over-par 73.
All eyes were on the 40-year-old American when he teed off on Thursday, competing for the first time in 15 months after undergoing two back operations.
It was the perfect start as he sat four-under-par through eight holes, but after a bogey on the ninth, the four-time Masters champion slumped.
The world number 898 hit just one more birdie and dropped a shot on the 11th before suffering two double bogeys in the final three holes of the round.
"I hit it in three bushes and had a water ball," The Guardian quotes Woods as saying. "So it could have been something really good. It was a solid start, I just made a few mistakes and things started going the wrong way. I let a good round slip away at the end.
"I had some awkward shots out there. If you are driving it well, you can tear this course apart. If not, you are in among bushes and rocks but, all in all, I feel pretty good. I am looking forward to another three days out here.
"I was pleased with how quickly I fell into the competitive flow of things, how I got used to the feel of the round. By the time I hit my tee shot on the 2nd, I was already in the flow of the round. To not play for 15 months and get that on the second hole was nice."
Meanwhile, JB Holmes has the clubhouse lead following an eight-under 64 opening round, while Hideki Matsuyama and Dustin Johnson sit one and two shots adrift respectively.
Danielle Joynson
