Photo: Cliff Hawkins/Getty
Tiger Woodsmarked his first golf tournament of the year with a strong showing, but an odd exchange he made with fellow player Justin Thomas had the internet buzzing.
The 15-time major champion, 47, outdrove Thomas in the ninth hole of the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club, hitting 323 yards off his tee, whileThomas hit 313 yards, per CBS Sports.
Woods ultimately ended the first round tied for 27th place with two-under-par 69, while Thomas ended the night three-under-par. Four-time champion, Rory McIlroy ended four-under-par.
Cliff Hawkins/Getty
Speaking about getting to play the tournament with both Thomas and Mcllroy after the first round, Woods said in a press conference, perCNN: “It was nice that I had this unbelievable pairing, two great guys, two great friends.”
“It was a great round. The ebb and flow of needling each other, encouraging each other and telling stories,” Woods added. “Because I hadn’t been out here soI’ve missed some of the things that have transpired on Tour, which is kind of fun.”
The event marks Woods' first tournament since The British Open Championship in July, where hemissed the cut in the second roundfinishing just eight spots from the bottom of the leaderboard.
“I’m not retiring from the game,” Woods told reporters after the tournament viaESPN. “But I don’t know if I will be physically able to play back here again when it comes back around. I’ll be able to play future British Opens, yes, but eight years' time, I doubt if I’ll be competitive at this level.”
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Woods, who had been recovering from serious leg injuries he sustained from aFebruary 2021 car accidentthat left his pro golf career in doubt, also withdrew from the Hero World Challenge on Nov. 28 due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot, which he said was “making it difficult to walk.”
Ahead of the tournament, he told reporters in December,per Yahoo Sports, “The goal is to play just the major championships and maybe one or two more. That’s it.”
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“I mean, that’s physically, that’s all I can do,” he added.
“I like playing, I like competing,” said Woods, “but unfortunately — I can hit the golf ball and hit whatever shot you want — I just can’t walk.”
source: people.com
