LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Tiger Woods has never had much luck at Riviera Country Club, and that trend continued Thursday as the former world number one carded a one-over-par 72 in the first round of the Genesis Open.
Playing just his second US PGA Tour event since spinal fusion surgery in April, Woods was again erratic off the tee, but as at Torrey Pines three weeks ago used a solid short game to limit the damage.
He found eight of 14 fairways, but just seven greens in regulation, needing 25 putts in a roller coaster of a round that included five birdies, four bogeys and a double-bogey.
After rolling in a nine-foot birdie putt at his opening hole, the 10th, Woods quickly found himself in trouble when a wayward tee shot at the 11th lodged in a eucalyptus tree, costing him his double bogey.
A bogey at the 12th had him two-over and in recovery mode the rest of the way.
Woods was five shots off the clubhouse lead held by Tom Hoge when his round ended.
Woods has a long history at Riviera, where he played his first US PGA Tour event as a 16-year-old amateur in 1992.
But in 11 prior appearances he has never won here and he hadn’t teed it up on the classic course west of downtown Los Angeles since 2006.
In his return he played in a marquee pairing with former world number one Rory McIlroy and reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year Justin Thomas.
McIlroy overcame three bogeys with a birdie and an eagle for an even par 71 and Thomas had five birdies in a two-under 69.
© Agence France-Presse
