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Rob Schumacher / USA TODAY NETWORK

Hero World Challenge: Tiger Woods Shoots 2-Under 70, Sits 15th After 36 Holes

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Jack Bushman | Last updated 12/2/23

Following an action-packed opening round of three-over 75, Tiger Woods responded Friday with a five-shot improvement, tallying five birdies and three bogeys for a two-under 70 during the second round of the Hero World Challenge. Woods, an 82-time PGA Tour winner, hit 13 of 18 greens in regulation, ranked top-five in the field in total driving, and needed just 29 putts for the round. Not too shabby for a guy coming off serious ankle fusion surgery in April.

Woods gave fans plenty of signs that he can still play elite-level golf despite all he's battled through, most notably racing out to four-under through the opening seven holes of the day. But the issue that plagued the 47-year-old on Thursday returned to bite him in the rear end again during the home stretch Friday. The gas tank ran empty.

The issues began at the par-four 13th, where 'Big Cat' errantly three-putted from just under 14 feet by missing a three-footer for par. Then, after failing to convert a short birdie opportunity on the 14th, Woods made a mess of the par-five 15th (the easiest hole on the course) for the second consecutive day. With 30 feet left for birdie, he erratically putted the ball off the green and back into the same bunker where he played his third shot. It was quite a bizarre and uncharacteristic moment from Woods.

"That was not a good putt. It was downwind, and I hit it way too hard. It got going on the wind and got going on the grain and was gone. It was better than yesterday." Woods said, referencing his double-bogey during Thursday's round.

Another bogey was carded at the par-four 16th, but Woods had one final highlight left in him as he rolled in a 27-foot birdie putt on the par-three 17th.

While Woods' performance on Friday had its share of ups and downs, most impressive (and important) was how well the 15-time major champion walked throughout the round. Woods appears to have shed the noticeable limp he donned during the 2023 Masters, where he last competed on the PGA Tour. He looks as healthy as he's been since the February 2021 single-vehicle car accident that left him with severe injuries to his right leg, ankle, and foot.

"My ankle doesn't hurt. Other things are bugging me and bothering me, but the ankle's fine. That was nice to be able to get out there and walk and not feel the things I felt early in the year while playing and trying to knock that out of the memory bank and create new ones."

Regardless of where Woods sits on the leaderboard when the tournament closes Sunday, the long-term outlook has to be positive based on what's been seen through 36 holes. 'Big Cat' has shown glimpses and flashes of his old self during the first two days of the Hero World Challenge, and he's also learning paramount information as to where he goes from here.

"This week is a great beta test to figure out what I can do, what the plan is going forward, what we're going to do in the gym, what I need to do, and just overall analyze what it's like to compete and play."

The road to 83 wins continues.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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