[ad_1]
ATLANTA – The crowd at East Lake was bigger and stronger than it had been in five years, which was the last time Tiger Woods was in the championship.
It was not a coincidence.
Woods played one of his best rounds of the year when he returned to the FedEx Cup final and provoked the biggest encouragement of a sunny Thursday afternoon by making a little eagle putt more than 25 feet on the 18th place. under 65 and a share of the lead with Rickie Fowler.
It was the second time in as many FedEx Cup playoffs as Woods was tied in the 18-hole event. Two weeks ago, he shot a 62 to Aronimink in the first round of the BMW Championship, on a course steeped in rain that allowed everyone to weaken.
It felt even better on a dry and challenging course of East Lake.
"It was way better than the 62 at Aronimink," Woods said. & # 39; & # 39; The conditions were weak there. It's difficult to bring the ball closer. If you drive the ball in the wrong state, you know you can not close it. You can not control it. & # 39; & # 39;
Fowler, who missed two playoffs after a right-sided injury, had a birdie on all but two holes for his 65th birthday, as he tried to avoid finishing the season without winning.
Justin Rose, in her debut as world No. 1, came out of the birdie bunker on the 18th for a 66 and was tied with Gary Woodland. Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy, who will all be in France next week for the Ryder Cup, have taken another shot.
Woods is already looking forward to a successful year this year with a 30-man field trip to East Lake for the FedEx Cup final, where everyone has a mathematical chance to capture the $ 10 million bonus. He started the season in January after a fourth backstroke that limited him to only 16 PGA Tour events in the previous four seasons.
Proposed FedExCup Ranking
Scores in full field of the championship of the round
Championship Tour: Articles, Photos and Videos
"I was hoping to start over again at the beginning of the year to be able to play golf and get back to that level, but I did not know it," Woods said. & # 39; & # 39; And I did it? & # 39; & # 39;
What would victory mean in this return?
"It would improve the year," he said.
Woods still has 54 holes left. Two weeks ago, he went from part of the first round to five shots late on a course where attacking flags on soft greens was the only option for a low score.
It was more about accuracy, and Woods felt total control. He opened with a bogey at three 25-foot strokes, and he ran twice as many birdie attempts past the hole than he would have liked. But having birdied 25 feet at number 5 and 15 feet at number 6, he understood the speed of the greens and was on his way.
"I've hit so many quality shots all day, be it tee-to-green or putts," Woods said. & # 39; & # 39; I have not really taken a bad shot today. The only shot I can honestly say is that the tee shot at age 17 hit me. I hit a 3-wood, and with an iron, I would have probably shot it. But ended in the fairway and done by.
Woods will play in the final group on Friday with Fowler, who has seen him a lot at home in Florida in the months leading up to Woods' return to golf. He had finished his tour and was doing interviews when he heard Woods's roar making an eagle.
They will be teammates next week at the Ryder Cup. Fowler has other goals in East Lake.
"The biggest win for him is staying healthy and staying here all year round regularly," Fowler said. & # 39; & # 39; Certainly happy for him. It's obviously great for our sport. It's great to have him as a member of the team next week. We hope that he continues to play well. I just want to play a little better and beat him. "
Sixteen players in the 30-man squad made the difference on a hot afternoon with only a slight breeze, and Thursday was all about staying in the game, especially with regard to the FedEx pursuit. Cup.
Bryson DeChambeau, the seeded after the reset points, had to watch two of the last three holes for a 71. For someone like Woods or Fowler to win the FedEx Cup, he would need the best five seeds .
Rose and Thomas did not go with good opening rounds. Finau overcame a pair of early bogeys for his 67.
The key for Woods could be Friday. Only once this year, at the Valspar championship at Innisbrook, did he stay in the thick of the tournament. He thinks he has a lot of support. Houses along the side streets outside East Lake and even a funeral home provided parking and their courtyards were crowded. It has not happened that way for many years.
"I have not played in this tournament for five years and some have said they have not been out here for five years," said Woods. "It's nice that they come and support this event and support me too."
Source link
