In his best opening round at the Buick Classic, Tiger Woods shot a 4-under-par 67, leaving him only four strokes off the lead, tied for fourth place and feeling encouraged about his game.
After tying for 20th at the US Open, his fourth consecutive major without a victory, Woods spent much of his time answering questions about the state of his game. But he hit the ball solidly on Thursday, making five birdies in his first 10 holes.
PHOTO: AP
"Today is an indication that I'm heading in the right direction," said Woods, who has never finished higher than 16th in the Buick Classic in three starts. "Things are starting to come together. It's just a matter of keeping it going, trusting it and getting into a rhythm. I strung some holes together, which I haven't been able to do. It's usually three or four good holes, and then I take a couple of holes off and hit some bad shots. This one, I kept it going for a while."
It could have been a better round, but Woods missed several point-blank putts. He missed an eight-foot birdie attempt at No. 14 on the right edge and missed a six-footer for a birdie at No. 17 that lipped out. The putt at No. 17 was particularly perplexing to Woods because he was fooled by the break.
"I didn't see it going right," said Woods, who kept staring at the putt, long after it had passed the hole. "I saw it going left. I hit it right-center, right where I was looking, and it moved right. That putt definitely makes you a little frustrated, especially when you hit it where you want to, with the right speed."
Woods reached 5 under with a birdie at the par-4, No. 10, although he did not play the hole the way many fans wanted him to. With people yelling at him to use his driver, hoping he would drive the green, Woods used a 3-wood instead. After his tee shot landed short and left of the green, he pitched to 4m, then made the putt.
Woods lost momentum on the back nine, making his first bogey at No. 13, when he missed the green and failed to get up and down and had a three-putt bogey at No. 15. But Woods ended with a birdie at the par-5 No. 18, hitting a nice bunker shot and making a nine-foot birdie putt. It was enough to make Woods optimistic.
"Obviously, it could have been a little bit lower, but I got off to a great start," he said.
In 1997, Ernie Els followed his victory at the US Open by winning the Buick Classic the next week. Jim Furyk was in position to do the same on Thursday after his opening-round 66 left him tied for second place. Four days after winning the Open, Furyk managed to avoid a letdown.
"I was worried a little bit about a loss of concentration, but I haven't run out of energy," Furyk said. "As long as I can keep concentrating well, I'll be in good shape."
Furyk was introduced as the Open champion on his first hole. How did he react?
"I smiled," he said. "I got a cheer when I walked on the practice tee today. Quite a few people wishing me well and congratulating me. I felt a very positive reaction from the crowd."
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