Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Friday 16 March 2018

Henrik Stenson bounces back and leads Bay Hill

By DOUG FERGUSON each had 65. Wise missed the golf course," Woods
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Hen- a 6-foot birdie putt on the said. "I can just see and feel
rik Stenson had a hot put- final hole. it and go."
ter, a much quieter crowd Woods again brought out Each week is a little bet-
and a one-shot lead in the big crowds in the unseason- ter for Woods, and Stenson
Arnold Palmer Invitational. able chill Thursday morning saw the progress last week.
One week after Stenson re- and gave them quite a The 41-year-old Swede
turned from his winter break show. He hit a tee shot that typically takes a month
and spent two days with Ti- was out-of-bounds by inch- off between the Middle
ger Woods and his raucous es. He atoned for that with East swing and the Florida
crowds, he made birdie on a 70-foot birdie putt. And swing, and he returned
half of the holes at Bay Hill he wound up with a 68, his last week to a grouping of
for an 8-under 64, his lowest best opening round since Woods and Jordan Spieth.
round ever on the course he returned this year from a That didn't bother him as
the King built. fourth back surgery. much as his poor putting.
PGA Tour rookies Aaron "I feel like I'm not really Bay Hill provided a change Henrik Stenson, of Sweden, watches his tee shot on the 11th hole
Wise and Talor Gooch thinking as much around in both areas. during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tour-
nament Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Orlando, Fla.
Associated Press

"It's great to see him back Bay Hill. He was happy with
competing, but it was a anything in the 60s and
little loud out there last said, "There won't be a lot
week," Stenson said. "But of rounds out there that
that comes with the excite- will be in the 60s. The golf
ment of having him back course is playing difficult."
and seeing him play well, There were 13 more rounds
so I thought it was great. ... in the 60s in the afternoon,
I guess it's nice to get a little including Ernie Els and Rory
bit of a breather at times, McIlroy at 69.
though." Only one of them was
It really helps to be putting pleased with it. Els, who
well, especially on pure has gone more than a year
greens at Bay Hill that al- since his last finish in the top
ready had a yellow hue to 30, dropped only one shot,
them. He spent the week- on the opening hole. McIl-
end at home in Orlando roy had five birdies through
working with Phil Kenyon, 10 holes and then hit out-
his putting coach, and it of-bounds on the 18th hole
seemed to help. Stenson for a double bogey.
took only 20 putts, tying his Coming off a runner-up fin-
personal best for fewest ish at the Valspar Champi-
putts in a round on the PGA onship that raised expec-
Tour. tations of a victory being
He ran off five straight bird- closer than ever, Woods
ies around the turn, and he started and finished strong,
followed his lone bogey with one mishap in the
at the par-3 14th with two middle. His drive on No. 3,
birdies and a 10-foot par his 12th hole of the round,
save. sailed to the right and
Woods had no complaints, went off a cart path and
and about the only thing toward the houses. Only
that went wrong — except when he reached the ball
for the tee shot on No. 3 did Woods find it had rolled
that went OB — was his into the bottom of a mesh
prediction before he left fence.q