Healthy Tiger starts Tavistock Cup on right foot

Showing no ill effects from a strained left Achilles tendon that forced him to withdraw from the WGC-Cadillac Championship eight days ago, Tiger Woods carded six birdies Monday on Day 1 of the ninth annual Tavistock Cup at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, Fla.

Woods and partner Justin Rose combined for a 9-under-par 63 to help Team Albany shoot 23-under par, three strokes behind leader Team Isleworth Golf and Country Club. Host Team Lake Nona shot 24-under and Team Queenwood Golf Club finished at 17-under.

Woods birdied the first two holes and added four more on the back nine, as he and Rose fashioned 10 overall. Their lone bogey came at the par-4 16th hole.

“He’s one of the best ball-strikers out here,” Woods said of Rose. “We saw it today. It was fun to watch him and even better to be his partner.”

Unlike the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship, when Woods limped noticeably and withdrew after hitting his drive on the 12th hole, he did not favor his left leg Monday and appeared pain-free.

“Unfortunately, there are times I have played through things that I probably shouldn’t have and it cost me,” Woods said. “For the first time, I did the right thing. Hence, I’m back in a week.”

The format for Tuesday’s final round of the Tavistock Cup is individual stroke play. Each team consists of six professionals, and all six scores will be counted Tuesday. The team with the lowest two-day score in relation to par will become the World Golf and Country Club Champion.

Woods is scheduled to tee off at 12:05 p.m. ET with Sean O’Hair of Team Isleworth, Graeme McDowell of Team Lake Nona and Thomas Bjørn of Team Queenwood.

On Thursday, Woods is set to compete in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge. He has won the tournament a record six times.