Frustrated Woods fails to hit target

Published on Thursday 12 March 2009 22:22

TIGER Woods made an unremarkable return to strokeplay golf in Florida, finishing on one under par in the WGC-CA Championship first round and six shots behind the leaders.

American world No 3 Phil Mickelson, India's Jeev Milkha Singh, South African Retief Goosen and Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng shared the lead after firing seven-under 65.

Woods was making his first appearance in a strokeplay event since his play-off win at the US Open nine months ago.

The world No 1 cut short his 2008 season in mid-June to have reconstructive knee surgery before returning to the PGA Tour at last month's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Starting on the back nine, Woods bogeyed the par-3 13th after finding the bunker just short of the green and two- putting. The 33-year-old took another 4 on his 13th hole, where he found water, but the biggest frustration for Woods, who made three birdies, was his putting.

"I hit so many putts that looked good. I thought I hit my lines and thought I had the right speed but they just didn't go in," said Woods, who was philosophical about a 71 that equalled his worst on a course which is one of his favourites.

"It wasn't like I hit bad putts. If I was struggling on the greens then I would be a lot more frustrated but I hit good putts and they just didn't go in."

Singh enjoyed an excellent day. The 37-year-old birdied seven out of nine holes in a purple patch in the middle of his round after a bogey on the par-4 11th, while

Asian tour regular Marksaeng finished his round in style with three birdies.

However, the brightest finale belonged to Mickelson, who chipped in on the last two holes to share the lead. "I felt going into this tournament that I was playing as well as I ever have as far as I can remember," said Mickelson. "From 50 yards in, my short game has never been this good."

Open and US PGA Championship winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland fired a bogey-free round to finish among a group of players one shot behind the leaders on six-under 66.

England's Oliver Wilson was among the leaders thanks to birdies on the par-4 16th and 17th but double-bogeyed the 18th to end on five-under 67.

Rory McIlroy got off to a great start then saw his round unravel slightly. The Northern Irish 19-year-old eagled the first hole and was five under after 12 holes but finished four under.

Meanwhile, Henrik Stenson stripped down to his underwear to play his way out of trouble.

Stenson hit a wild drive at the third hole, landing on mud in a water hazard. With seven holes still to complete and the world No7 believing he had a good enough lie, the Swede opted to shed his clothes and play. He got the ball out and carded a bogey 5 on the way to an opening 69.

"Because of the mud I couldn't really afford to play in any of my clothes as they would have been a real mess down the last six or so holes so I had no option," Stenson said later.

"I was only wearing two things when I hit the shot, my jocks and my golf glove – just the way God created me."