Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Friday 1 december 2017
Woods returns with solid round

and good start in Bahamas

By DOUG FERGUSON aline out there.” green, and then holed an
AP Golf Writer He was tied for eighth in 18-foot par putt.
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — the 18-man field of this holi- While the field is short, the
Tiger Woods looked a lot day exhibition that awards competition is strong with
better in his return to golf world ranking points but eight of the top in the
than he did when he left. does not count as official world at Albany. Woods re-
Playing for the first time on any tour. Rickie Fowler alizes they have spent the
since his fourth back sur- and Matt Kuchar were at last couple of years play-
gery, Woods returned from 67, while Dustin Johnson, ing at a high level that al-
a 10-month layoff with a Jordan Spieth, Justin Rose lows them to overcome a
3-under 69 on a breezy and Kevin Chappell were few mistakes.
Thursday in the Bahamas at 68. “I don’t want to lose shots,”
that left him three shots The buzz was back. John- Woods said. “I haven’t
behind Tommy Fleetwood son noticed it when he was played in a very long time
after the opening round of on the practice range and and I can’t afford to go out
the Hero World Challenge. noticed a crowd around there and make a bunch
“For me, I thought I did the putting green. of bogeys and know that I
great,” Woods said with a “Tiger must be there,” John- can make nine, 10 birdies
smile. son said. “Because there’s and offset them.”
And in a sign that he was 40 people instead of four.” Along with his five birdies —
ready to get back into the Golf Channel added an only two of them were tap-
mix, he was far from satis- hour of coverage, and ins — Woods had an assort-
fied. Twitter came alive with ment of tough par saves,
Unlike a year ago, when people curious about the including a 10-footer that
Woods ended a 15-month latest return. That included kept him dropping another
hiatus from his ailing back, Steph Curry, the Golden shot on a par 5 at No. 11.
he didn’t show any fatigue State Warriors’ two-time He finished his round with
at the end of his round or MVP who played a Web. a belly wedge from short Tiger Woods reacts on the second hole at the Hero World Chal-
make any big numbers. com Tour event in August. of the 17th green because lenge golf tournament at Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas,
His only regret was playing “The wait is over. The wait is of mud on his ball, and hol- for a 73 to finish nine shots ing with Woods, is among
the par 5s at Albany Golf over,” he tweeted . ing a 6-foot par putt on the behind. This time, he closed those who have played
Club in 1-over par with two Michael Phelps said he was 18th. with pars and was three with him in recent weeks
bogeys that stalled his mo- “pumped to be watching” A year ago, Woods made back.PGA champion Justin in Florida. Woods said he
mentum. Woods on TV again. a pair of double bogeys Thomas, who also opened once played nine straight
Coming off a 25-foot birdie This event doesn’t draw over the last three holes with a 69 in the same pair- days.q
putt on the par-3 eighth, big crowds, but most of
Woods hit a 3-wood that them were with Woods to
rolled up on the green and see how he would fare in
then down a slope about this latest comeback, this
30 feet from the pin. It took one from fusion surgery on
him four shots from there, his lower back on April 20.
starting with a chip that Given it was his fourth sur-
didn’t reach the green gery in three years, cou- Located in the Riu Antilles Resort (Formerly the Westin Resort)
and his first expletive loud pled with a DUI arrest in the
enough for television to summer that exposed the FREE TRANSPORTATION TO THE CASINO FROM ALL
pick up. struggles Woods was hav- HIGH RISE AND LOW RISE HOTELS AND TIMESHARES.
After his best shot of the ing with pain medicine, a CALL 525-7777 FOR MORE INFORMATION
day — a pitching wedge day like this seemed a long
he hit low from 95 yards way off. LIVE POKER
that settled a foot behind Woods said he appreci-
the hole for birdie on No. ated the moment Thursday
14 — he sent a drive well morning. GAMES START 8 PM TO THE WEE HOURS
to the right into the native “I was in my head thanking
dunes. Woods had to take all the people who have
a penalty drop to get back helped me in giving me 1-2.....2-5......5-5 1-3.....2-5......5-5
in play and wound up mak- a chance to come back $100 HIGH HAND BONUSES EVERY HOUR
ing bogey. and play this round again,”
But it was solid enough that he said. “There were a lot OVER $20,000 PER WEEK GIVEN OUT IN HIGH HAND BONUSES
Woods was far more inter- of people who were instru- CRAPS
ested in the leaderboard mental in my life — friends,
than the fact he felt strong outside people I’ve never ONLY CASINO IN ARUBA TO OFFER 3, 4 & 5 TIME ODDS
physically. bet before, obviously my
“It was not only nice to get surgeon. I was very thank-
the first round out of the ful.” SPORTSBOOK
way, but also I’m only three And he was as competitive
shots out of the lead,” he as always. LIVE SIMULCAST OF ALL MAJOR TRACKS
said. “So to be able to put Woods delivered his first
myself there after not play- fist pump on par-4 fourth THROUGHOBRED AND HARNESS
ing for 10 months or so, it hole when he scooped a
was nice to feel the adren- chip that didn’t reach the