Tiger Woods is back at work on Monday in Ireland. This wasn’t his best performance, but he was, after all, just a pro – only with a much more loaded field than usual.
As one of the many Superstars competing in the two-day JP McManus Pro-Am at Adare Manor, Woods scored his first semi-competitive holes (well, he’s a pro) since withdrawing after the third round 79th in the PGA Championship on May 21. He shot 5 over 77 and beat only five players (and disqualified Jordan Spieth, who reportedly picked up his ball by mistake late in his round and didn’t complete the hole).
Woods finished with a shot for Ian Woosnam, 64.
“The team is doing a great job…just don’t look at our scorecard,” Woods said candidly during a mid-round interview. “But we’re having fun.”
Asfour Woods Bar -4 10The tenth Pit and chipped eagle in par-5 12The tenthBut those were the only highlights. Woods cheated his second hole punch of the day and added six more ghosts on the tour. He went after 3-wood on the par-5 finishing hole and from 273 yards left it just shy of the green. However, he failed to get up and down for Birdie and capped his day with an easy reward.
As he split his time between walking and using a stroller, there were some positive signs. Woods hit a number of good drives, although he wasn’t nearly as sharp with his irons and racket (not that he spent a lot of time reading pitches either). Woods looked upbeat and more agile than the last time we saw him in the Southern Hills. He even picked the driver off the deck on the ninth hole.
But he was still noticeably limp and had trouble cleaning his lower body on several full shots, resulting in his fair share of left fouls.
Woods is set to return to action at next week’s Open in St Andrews.
JP McManus Pro-Am includes many of the world’s best players competing in the stroke play format. All of them are grouped with three amateur partners who compete in a struggle. Xander Schauffele, who recently won the Travelers Championship, fired 8-under 64 to lead among the pros. Ricky Fowler is second after three shots.
