Tiger Woods is proving his 2023 season could be very different

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Tiger Woods’ trek again to {golfing} brilliance was all the time going to be in grimaced, child steps, however the previous few months have largely been a plateau. Our expectations froze. 

In December, Woods bowed out of his Hero World Challenge with a case of plantar fasciitis. His journey to St. Andrews final July was memorable however the golf was forgettable. He skipped the U.S. Open, skipped his closing spherical of the PGA Championship and solely as soon as broke par at Augusta National. But this 12 months? This 12 months would possibly be different. 

Woods performed his means round Riviera Country Club in 67 strokes Saturday, by far his greatest spherical since his automotive accident two years in the past. He even admitted it himself. And for the primary time since his accident, Woods’ efficiency felt informal. It felt ho-hum. He was even requested if rounds like Saturday’s remind him of “the old days.”

“Feel-wise, yes,” he mentioned. The press doesn’t perceive golf fairly like he does, however we do know good golf after we see it, and the query needed to be requested. Three birdies and an eagle at Riviera is a terrific day. 

Every Woods press convention from now till The End will be stuffed with solutions about his physique. On the great days, he’s succeeded regardless of his physique. On the dangerous days, he’s shedding to his physique. The golf, he makes it sound, is simply adjoining to that.

“I can hit golf balls, I can do all that stuff,” he mentioned. “I can chip and putt back home and I can do all that stuff. But I haven’t walked and played a lot, so that’s the challenge.” 

But a part of this week has been realizing that Woods does certainly look stronger than final 12 months. His gait is nonetheless hampered, however smoother. His most dramatic limping occurs towards the tip of every spherical. He says his core is stronger, so he can sustain with the gap of his friends’ with out doing all of it with his decrease physique. It’s undoubtedly working. 

“Christian [Bezuidenhuit] and I were talking about it,” enjoying associate Matthias Schwab mentioned after the spherical. “He outdrove us on almost every hole, which was a little bit surprising.” 

Just slightly bit? This man is 47 years outdated and appears a lot older, however expectations appear to be altering on the PGA Tour. Last week quite a few gamers had been shocked to listen to Woods would be teeing it up this week. Now, he’s beating numerous them.

Saturday’s 68 is simply the twelfth spherical Woods has performed in competitors since his automotive crash in 2021. Even if he’s 12 pictures again of inevitable pressure Jon Rahm, Woods is actually enjoying with out strain for the primary time in his life.

This time final 12 months nobody knew when he’d compete once more. Even final week, we anticipated him to simply host the Genesis. But then he confirmed up and shot 69 Thursday. No one is demanding he play, however he’s doing it, and sneaky doing it nicely. 

It’s straightforward to rely to 2, however Woods hasn’t put two rounds collectively in a match for the reason that fateful accident. Last 12 months’s opening 71 at Augusta National was adopted by 74 and a pair of 78s. His 69 on Friday at Southern Hills got here after a 74 and earlier than a 79.

In simply three rounds this week, Woods has already damaged 70 twice. Rightfully so, it’s earned him questions on including one other occasion to his schedule earlier than the Masters. We’re all scuffling with persistence, Woods included.

“The way I had been hitting the golf ball, the way I’ve been practicing at home, I can do this,” Woods mentioned to CBS’s Amanda Renner after play. “It’s just a matter of getting it around. How am I going to do that part?”

Yeah, we’re all questioning that. Woods was sitting throughout that interview, and comfortably, however his limp will get worse the extra he has to do. “From point A to point B,” he calls it. He needed to stand for his interview with Kira Dixon, after which stand some extra for 10 questions with reporters. Then he needed to descend from the rostrum, step over electrical cords and stroll the slight incline to the locker room. A safety guard prompted him for an autograph, and Woods accepted the responsibility, however solely after plopping down on a golf cart. 

There’s loads of deference and choice for Woods at this match. He principally can float round with handlers taking good care of issues for him. He actually selected the primary tee time in Wednesday’s pro-am on his personal. And the group he performed with Thursday and Friday (alongside buddies Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy) was as cozy as they get. There will be one other chair for his broadcast appearances Sunday afternoon and doubtless a cart to the 18th-green ceremony when the match is over. But principally we care concerning the golf pictures, proper? In phrases of golf pictures, he’s nonetheless doing it. He’s nonetheless doing it.