Tiger Ends Round 1 at Quicken Loans National At Even Par

POTOMAC, Md. – Making a putter switch, Tiger Woods matched par with a 70 on Thursday in the first round of Quicken Loans National at TPC Potomac.

Frustrated on the greens in his last four starts, he changed from his usual Scotty Cameron Newport 2 to a TaylorMade TP Collection Ardmore 3. Woods missed six birdie putts from 22 feet or closer, including four from 12 feet and in, but felt better about his line and pace.

“I hit good putts; they just didn’t go in, which is fine,” said Woods, who used 29 overall. “I don’t mind that at all.”

He opted for the mallet-like model Wednesday on the putting green,

“I just didn’t feel right,” Woods said. “So time for it (Cameron) to sit on the bench a little bit.”

He’s tied for 48th, trailing co-leaders Andrew Landry and J.J. Spaun by seven strokes. The average score on the toasty day was 69.94.

“I shot about the score I should have shot today,” said Woods, who offset a double-bogey at the par-4 sixth with birdies at the par-4 14th and 16th holes.

Woods, who also serves as the event host, previously won at nearby Congressional Country Club in 2009 and 2012. However, he has been sidelined the last two years by injury.

A late starter with Marc Leishman and Bill Haas, Woods hit a poor drive and second shot into the hazard at the sixth, but made nice par-saves at 10 and 11. A sweet pitch at the short 14th set up a three-foot birdie, and he curled in a nine-footer at 16, his longest make of the round.

Woods hit seven of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens.

“I hit a lot of good shots starting out,” he said. “Overall, it was a good day, but not the day I wanted.”

Woods draws an early start Friday. He begins on the 10th tee at 8:20 a.m. ET with Leishman and Haas.

Proceeds from the tournament benefit the TGR Foundation.