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SPORTS Thursday 1 February 2018

Column: Mediocre score, rousing success in Tiger’s return

By DOUG FERGUSON North Course was 65 yards it comes to this version of
AP Golf Writer left of the edge of the fair- Woods.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — One way. There is a call for patience
year later, Tiger Woods But then, that might have because he has played
looked five years younger. worked in his favor. so little tournament golf
There are intangibles that How else would he get a and even less with a sem-
are hard to measure, sense that his back could blance of good health. But
though at this stage in his handle so many violent at some point, he should
return, they mean more swings required to get him be measured against the
than the traditional mea- out of that mess? field. He should be mea-
sure of a golfer. “Some of the shots I had sured not so much by
Woods was walking just as to hit out of the rough, out winning, but by having a
tall at the end of the week of the trees, shaping them chance.
as when he arrived at Tor- both ways, and a few Asked what he thought of
rey Pines for the Farmers In- times I had to jack up the Woods’ return, two-time
surance Open, and not just speed,” Woods said after U.S. Open champion Cur-
because he played four the final round. “And had tis Strange took the right
rounds on the PGA Tour for no issues at all.” path.“It’s not for me to pass
the first time in 29 months. The issue was being there judgment on four rounds of
It’s not often that Woods in the first place, but there’s golf,” he said Tuesday. “I’m
says words like “pleased” time.Woods headed home giving him most of the year, Tiger Woods greets fans as he makes his way to the seventh hole
and “positive” after a tie for two weeks before he and then we’ll revisit.” of the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course during the final
for 23rd. comes back out to Califor- In the meantime, his return round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament, Sunday,
But it would be hard to ar- nia for the Genesis Open was as advertised. Jan. 28, 2018, in San Diego.
gue with him. at Riviera, a course where Tournament officials issued Associated Press
This did not look like the he made his PGA Tour de- a notice a few hours after ie from 75 feet to make the public parking for Saturday
previous five comebacks but at age 16 in 1992 but Woods two-putted for bird- cut on the number. It said was sold out.q
from when he had the first last played in 2006. He’s
of four back surgeries a likely to play the Honda
week before the 2014 Mas- Classic a week later, and
ters. then have two weeks off
There was no sense of how before the Arnold Palmer
long he would last, rather Invitational at Bay Hill.
how long it would take for That might be it before the
him to get sharper. Masters. Woods is not in Everybody wins watching the big game
“Ninety holes over five days the two World Golf Cham- Are you ready for the big game?
in a row ... I know he did pionships in March. He is Exciting food & drinks
that in the Bahamas, but contemplating the Val- Balashi beer bucket special
those were 3½ hours, and spar Championship at In- Bar snacks **only @ bar
now we’re playing five- nisbrook, but that would Mixed grill platter us $ 26.95 (++)
hour rounds,” caddie Joe mean four tournaments in
3 TV's
LaCava said. “That makes five weeks, and that might 3 TV's
a difference because be too much too soon. Big screens and projector
you’re adding about sev- If there was curiosity about inside the restaurant
en, eight hours on your his performance at Torrey Call to reserve your Spot
feet, playing golf, thinking Pines, there is even more
about what to hit, and hit- about how he plays Riv- Raffle prizes and giveaways (while supply last)
ting shots. So I’m glad he iera.
got through that. I’m not “We can see the swing is
saying health isn’t going to out of sync. He can feel it’s
be an issue, but it certainly out of sync,” six-time major
looks better than it has.” winner Nick Faldo said be-
The only concern was off fore the final round. “I’m
the tee. Woods hit 17 out thinking he’s going to go
of 56 fairways for the week, away for two weeks and
tied for last among the 77 it will be very interesting if
players who made the cut. he can put his finger on the
He hit only three fairways things he needs to work
in each of the final three on.”
rounds, and his drive on Keeping score should be
the par-5 10th hole on the easy in golf, except when Located on the beach at Casa del Mar Beach Resort Tel. 588 7300