| AKRON, Ohio -- After an unprecedented seven wins at Firestone Country Club, Ernie els should be aware of the course greater than anyone. All the same, he was quoted saying he felt "pretty nervous" when he teed off to the first hole over a swealtering Thursday afternoon.
So you know what? "It felt awesome," Woods said firmly, flashing that megawatt smile of his, one that hasn't come easily these days.
Granted, Woods's first drive landed in a steep-faced fairway bunker. But he made par and proceeded to play Wii Zapper Light Gun over the first round around the world Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, and the resulting 68 represented what Woods termed "big progress."
To the fans who have eagerly awaited Woods' return to the experience after the 12-week layoff to heal the strained ligament in the left knee and also the ailing Achilles tendon, though, Thursday was just big.
Some of those in Woods' ample gallery on Thursday got ahead of themselves, of course. When Woods threaded a shot from a chute of humanity that settled just shy on the pond that guards the green on the par-5 16th on how to the final birdie, one man gleefully predicted "He'll be there on Sunday."
Such optimism isn't surprising. All things considered, in recent times, we have learned you may anticipate the unexpected from your former world No. 1. Whether Woods, who trails Adam Scott by six strokes, enters contention for the purpose could well be his first PGA TOUR title in 23 months remains to appear, though.
Thursday was the 1st step. Admittedly, a large one -- there's that word again. He didn't limp much like the last time we got him competing, shooting 42 on the PLAYERS Championship prior to intense pain forced him to withdraw after nine holes. He showed no symptoms of favoring that knee because he Wii Gun out with welcome abandon at that little white ball.
"It feels great, feels great," said Woods, who appeared relaxed using his buddy Darren Clarke. "As anybody who's been off and who's been injured, very first time that back, it is just a little nervous to find out how are you affected. But my practice sessions were good, so there's really no good reason that I would worry on the market. I shut off there and easily let it go, allow it rip and pay attention to what happens."
Indeed he did. Woods said he actually struggled somewhat with distance control about the stifling, muggy afternoon. The swing he's been renovating under the guidance of Sean Foley has arrived together -- the same as Woods said had happened to the range at TPC Sawgrass in May before the prolonged recovery raised a lot of question marks.
"I was hitting proper shots around, and also the distances I'm showing up in the hockey (were interesting)," Woods said. "I hadn't hit the ball like that. This was fun, as a way to hit the ball achievable much flush feeling over the hockey and speed I had created. That it was pretty nice."
Woods said his previous means of attack was really a "wipey" swing. Now he's getting what he calls a "full transfer of energy" and hitting the ball farther without just as much effort. He hit nine drives of 300 yards or maybe more on Thursday, including one of 338 to the ninth hole.
Woods missed fairways -- nine to become exact -- but those errant shots didn't stray past the boundary into the rough. Woods hit 12 of 18 greens, made three birdies and came up with two big par saves from 17 and 20 feet about the front nine. He tied for second in distance of putts made and sixth in strokes gained putting.
Thursday was just part of what Woods calls a "progression," one out of which we might be wise to give him some latitude. He's extremely pleased because of the improvement he's seen to the range over the past so often above all, just how he surely could put it into operation inside the first round.
"Just as i think this is certainly pretty good, I get a little bit better," Woods explained. "This one, Sean and that i say, okay, that's wonderful position, that's where you need to get to, I receive a lot better. That's what's fun over it is we keep refining it. Today a number of the shots, many of the drives I hit around, I received my power back."
Woods figures to check out similar improvement because week goes on. He's competed again; he's gotten in the rhythm of hitting shots, shots that mean something. "(It's) way unique of zipping around in shorts and also a cart," a grinning Woods said. And it's what he does best, what he was trained from toddling to do.
And merely when will Woods join his loyal fans and allow himself to entertain thoughts of eighth title at Firestone?
"I pondered winning planning." Woods said simply. And what transpired on Thursday is doing absolutely nothing to alter that outlook. |
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