Tiger Woods didn't make the greatest of starts at the Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday evening, with the 14-time major winner carding an opening round score of four over-par.
A bogey on the first hole looked ominous after his drive failed to find the fairway and he was forced to scramble early on. Playing partners Dustin Johnson and Jason parred the first, while Woods dropped a shot.
From there, things got better. The American closed out the front nine without another blemish on his card and even picked up shots on 10 and 11.
Under-par during his first round in 523 days. How sweet it must have felt.
It wasn't to last, though. A miserable run of bogeys on 12, 13 and 14 was capped by a double bogey on 15. He saved par on his next hole before another dropped shot on 17. His afternoon was getting away from him.
Back-to-back birdies.
Tiger Woods is in red figures. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/fxinxWengK
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 26, 2017
There was some respite on the final hole of the day, his final putt dropped to earn him a birdie on 18 to soften the blow. Four over-par, 11 shots off the lead. 14-time major winner or not, this was going to be tough.
"I was fighting out there all day," he said. "I didn't really play that well. The greens were a little tough out there with some of the putts. I had a round where I sort of let it slip away in the middle of the back nine."
Olympic gold medallist Justin Rose leads the way on seven under-par. The Briton picked up six birdies and and two eagles during his opening round, with just three bogeys blemishing his card.
Tiger Woods strikes from the bunker during his opening round at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego. Image: Gregory Bull AP/Press Association Images
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