Tiger Woods (+1) has lost the first round at Riviera (round of 72 strokes), although never turning his back on the fight in this first day of the Genesis Invitational, third Signature Event of the season of the PGA Tour. It was, moreover, a clean fight, now I hit you, now I take it, settled with five birdies in favour of the best player in history (as long as Nicklaus grants us permission) and six bogeys on the legendary Californian course.
In the end, just at the end, it’s true, Woods was about to hit the canvas. It happened on the 18th, after a good drive. With an 8 iron in his hands and from the fairway Tiger hit a real cannonball, a fatherly shank that sent the ball to the right, towards the trees. From there, however, and with a narrow gap between two bicentennial giants, he managed to sign a good bogey, even putting to save par from about four and a half metres.
“Yes, I definitely hit a shank. I had been feeling some spasms in the last two holes and I didn’t move well… Just after doing that with the 8 iron, with the ball out of position, I found a small window between the trees and wanted to hit the 8 iron again, a punch hook… So I assumed that was going to be the hardest shot. But it came out well,” explained the player once the round was over.
Conclusions? Some can be drawn, but only linked to what has been seen today, without intending to go any further. For example, Tiger has been seen a bit clumsy, considering who he is, in the recoveries around greens that, on Thursday, were already fast and quite firm, although very noble. Too many recoveries have been left in the inkwell, especially from the sand. Otherwise, that recurring fade with the driver, sometimes transformed into a full-blown power fade, seems efficient enough, although he has also left a few streets along the way. And he has hit some big shots, trademark irons. He has also passed with the putter in his hands, up to a notable can be put, although sometimes, for looking at the detail, he has lacked a bit of calmness in the first putt, the birdie one.
Tomorrow he is going to have to row to make the cut, but in general terms, and considering that this man has been out of competition for a long time, the plate of positive sensations weighs more in the balance.
Riviera is not showing particularly fierce. At least not yet. Very much in line with the last two editions, in which the winning result clearly went beyond -15. But it is a course that always penalises bad play. It is very difficult to get away with it. The provisional leader of the morning is Patrick Cantlay (-7), who has given a recital of solidity, but especially on the greens, sinking up to four birdie putts and one par from beyond three metres (and six as well…). Good start also for Cam Davis (-6), Luke List (-6), Jordan Spieth (-5) and a Will Zalatoris (-5) who was six under for the first nine, but who is still showing signs of a complete rehabilitation.
