Tiger Woods (48, USA), who announced the return of the ‘golf emperor’, revealed that he is still suffering from ankle problems. In the 1st round of the PGA Tour Genesis Invitational, a comeback match after 7 months, he took off his shoes and put his socks back on several times.
On the 17th (Korean time) in the first round of the tournament held at the Riviera Country Club (par 71) in Pacific Palisades, California, USA, Woods, who tied 5 birdies and 3 bogeys and scored 2 under par 69, was 5 strokes behind the joint lead group. He finished tied for 27th.
As he said at the press conference earlier that the shot was not a problem, he hit an average of 320 yards of tee shots, and three of them drove more than 330 yards. There were even shots that went farther than fellow players and long hitters Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and Justin Thomas (USA).
Considering his physical condition, there was also a prediction that Woods would have a hard time holding on in the latter nine holes. As expected, the 10th hole (par 4) and 12th hole (par 4) were bogeyed and shaken, but after that, the game showed improvement as the game progressed. His driver shots flew farther, his approach shots got tighter, and he finally dropped to his putt. Woods finished his comeback with three consecutive birdies on holes 16 through 18 at the last minute.
Considering his health, these performances are quite encouraging. Woods had to play all 18 holes on foot and showed a slight limp as each step put pressure on his right ankle. He also took off his right shoe and changed his ankle brace and sock several times during the round, and continued to move and stretch his right foot while waiting for his tee shot.
Woods said, “My ankles are much thinner than before. He has had so many surgeries that his ankles and legs keep changing. He explained that he had to change the shoes and socks he had been wearing,” and “the taping work was done in a different way, and the filling material inside the shoes was also changed to a different form.”
He continued, “Unfortunately, my legs are a problem. “The bridge will never get back to what it used to be,” he said. “We have to adapt to that and fortunately our team is doing well.”
Due to a major car accident two years ago, Woods was told his right leg might have to be amputated. Fortunately, his leg was not amputated, but he underwent several major surgeries. Since then, Woods’ ankle has been like a ticking time bomb, and in December of last year, he tried to participate in the Hero World Challenge hosted by his foundation, but withdrew his participation due to plantar fasciitis.
He said that the pain got worse after standing for a long time. So, on the 10th and 12th holes in the second half, mistakes that were not like Woods came out. He said he scolded himself after committing a bogey on the 12th hole. Afterwards, he played the best play in the 16th hole (par 3) birdie, the 17th hole (par 5) 7m birdie, and the 18th hole (par 4). The 317-yard tee shot went farther than McIlroy’s tee shot, and the second shot was 2m away and caught a birdie. 토토사이트
After making a successful birdie putt on the 18th hole, Woods said, “I didn’t want to be a stupid host who makes mistakes in front of everyone,” and said, “It was a great round.” At the same time, he also made it clear that he had a chance to win. “That’s the only reason I tee up,” Woods added.
In the 9th hole (par 4), after sending the tee shot farther than Thomas, the scene of playing a prank by sneaking a tampon, a feminine hygiene product, into Thomas’ hand was also a picture of Woods happily playing a round with his close colleagues.
Now the real test begins. Woods finished the first round at 5:00 p.m. local time and is scheduled for the second round at 7:24 a.m. the next day. We have to play in colder weather, but we only have about 14 hours left. Woods plans to prepare for the second round by repeating icing and rehabilitation treatment.