Woods Shoots 1-Over-Par 72 in Round 1 at the Dell Technologies Championship
NORTON, Mass. – Tiger Woods carded a 1-over-par 72 on Friday in the first round of the Dell Technologies Championship at TPC Boston.
Playing in the tournament for the first time since 2013, he finished with three birdies and four bogeys and is tied for 57th. Justin Rose leads the second of four FedExCup playoff events after shooting a 6-under 65.
Armed with a new TaylorMade Juno blade putter, Woods was sharp on the greens, using 26 putts. But he didn’t give himself enough birdie chances.
“I putted beautifully today, I really did,” Woods said. “I hit a lot of good putts, and just have to give myself more looks at them. I didn’t hit the ball close enough.”
He wound up hitting 10 of 14 fairways and nine of 18 greens. Twice, Woods saved bogey with six-foot putts, and he canned a 23-foot par-saver at the eighth hole.
As has been his pattern this year, he started slowly. Friday marked the 13th time in 16 opening rounds on the PGA Tour that he has been unable to break par.
“When I did miss it, I missed it in bad spots and didn’t have very good angles,” said Woods.
Beginning on the back nine with Marc Leishman and Chez Reavie, Woods bogeyed three of the first seven holes. He stumbled at the par-4 10th, par-5 13th and par-4 16th before making his first birdie at the par-3 17th, knocking in a slippery 15-foot left-to-right putt.
Woods parred 18 and turned in 2-over 37.
On the front nine, he birdied the fourth and seventh holes, and sustained his lone bogey at the par-4 sixth, posting a 1-under 35.
“I hung in there,” said Woods. “Couldn’t quite get the momentum going.”
A field of 98 played Friday. The top 70 in the FedExCup playoff points standings after play on Monday advance to the third leg of the playoffs at the BMW Championship at Aronimink, Sept. 6-9. Woods started the week at No. 25 and has already clinched a spot.
Woods has good history at TPC Boston, winning on the course in 2006. He’s also finished second twice.
Woods starts his second round on Saturday at 1:16 p.m. ET on the first tee with Leishman and Reavie.
