All players participating in the PGA Tour Genesis Invitational were made as bridesmaids. ‘Golf Emperor’ Tiger Woods (USA) returned to the field after 7 months. He made a birdie from the first hole, enthralling countless fans who filled Riviera CC.
On the 17th (Korean time), the first round of the Genesis Invitational, the third special event of the season, held at Riviera CC in Pacific Palisades near Los Angeles, California, USA, heated up with Woods’ participation. Galleries with smartphones formed a long line around the fairway to see Woods, who returned to the regular tour seven months after The Open in July last year.
When Woods, wearing a navy blue knit top and pants, climbed to the tee box of hole 1 (par 5) with Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and Justin Thomas (USA), the venue turned into a crucible of enthusiasm. World No. 2 McIlroy was just a bridesmaid at this moment.
After Woods’ return, his first tee shot went off the fairway, but the galleries did not spare their applause. Thousands of fans followed Woods throughout the game, as if not missing a single move. Woods, who protected the fairway with his second shot, made a light birdie putt with his third approach shot 1m away from the hole. When Woods made a birdie with his skillful game management, the galleries enthusiastically cheered. The JTBC golf relay also said, “It was a moment when his words that he came to win came true.”
A mistake was made in the 4th hole (par 3). The tee shot hit with an iron fell into the left rough, and even the approach was short.
Afterwards, Woods, who pared well until the 7th hole, sent a tee shot to 322 yards on the 8th hole. The ball landed well in the center of the fairway, farther than fellow players McIlroy and Thomas. Woods, who hit the second shot last than his juniors, put the ball 1m into the hole and took a birdie with ease.
In the second half, he slowed down by writing down bogies on holes 10 and 12. However, on the 15th hole (par 4), his most difficult hole, Woods also flew a tee shot for a whopping 338 yards. The birdie putt missed slightly and recorded a par. 메이저놀이터
In the 16th hole (par 3), he hit a tee shot at the 1.5m hole, caught the third birdie, recorded an even par, and returned the score to the original point. In the 17th hole (par 5), he made a sensuous putt and caught two consecutive birdies. Woods and the gallery all cheered loudly when the ball went into the hole and entered the under par. The broadcasters also praised him, saying, “The most Tiger Woods down shot came out.”
The last 18th hole (par 4) also put the second shot well near the hole and calmly caught a birdie. Woods, who caught three consecutive birdies, showed the presence of the ‘golf emperor’ properly. After the game, Woods took off his hat and thanked the fans for their support.
Woods, who recorded 2 under par with 5 birdies and 3 bogeys, is tied for 27th place. As of 10:00 a.m., the last group match is still in progress, so there is a possibility of a change in the ranking depending on the results of the remaining matches. It is five strokes behind Max Homa and Keith Mitchell (USA, 7 under par), who finished jointly in the lead. The first round of the Genesis Invitational, where you can see the great shots of the returning golf emperor, is currently being broadcast live through JTBC Golf.