Golf

Tiger Woods plays and fist-pumps like he never left

NASSAU, Bahamas — The first demonstrative Tiger Woods fist pump in what felt like years came on the 16th green Friday at Albany Golf Club, where his well-documented comeback after more than 15 months away from the game was in its second round of the Hero World Challenge.

The violent right fist cutting through the warm Bahamas air was not lost on Woods’ caddie, Joe LaCava, who said, “Yeah, it’s been awhile since we’ve seen one of those. You could tell what it meant to him.’’

Woods had double-bogeyed No. 16 in his opening round Thursday — a lowlight to the back-nine 40 he shot that sabotaged a promising round in his return after 466 days away from tournament golf because of back issues.

On Friday, Woods was staring at a 25-foot par-save putt on 16. When he buried it, that par save did several things: It kept a terrific round pumping with energy, settled a score from the day before and preserved the sparking 7-under bogey-free 65 Woods carded to push himself back into the cusp of contention entering the weekend.

After shooting a 1-over 73 Thursday to stand 17th out of the 18 players in the field, Woods vaulted himself up the leaderboard into a tie for ninth — six shots behind leaders Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama (both at 12-under) with 36 holes to play.

At the end of the day, it was that par save on 16 that had Woods happiest.

Getty Images

“To not drop a shot, lose any momentum … that was a big one,’’ Woods said. “I wanted to keep that card clean. I don’t know what it is … but keeping cards clean, there’s something really special and it feels pretty good doing that.’’

Woods began his day with a birdie on the first hole, hitting driver onto the fairway and stinging his approach shot to within six feet.

After the round, Woods called the approach to the first green “the shot of the day.’’

The difference between Thursday and Friday is Woods didn’t allow the second round to get away from him like he did a day earlier. He kept his foot on the gas for all 18 holes. Thus, the satisfying and important low score he got to the house.

“I had it going for eight holes and I lost it,’’ Woods said of Thursday’s round, adding that Friday “was different.’’

Woods played as a single Friday because playing partner Justin Rose, who was in 18th place with a 74 on Thursday, withdrew in the morning with a back issue. Woods was offered the option of playing with a marker, but he opted to go alone.

Woods hit 8-of-14 fairways (though one drive was 6 inches into the first cut), was on 14 greens in regulation and he took 25 putts. All were improvements from his first round.

“I think once the first round was over it was all going to be gravy after that,’’ LaCava said. “Thursday was like, ‘Let’s get a couple tee shots under our belt. Everyone’s watching, the world’s watching. Let’s move on, get that first day over with.’

“I’ve seen better shots each day. He’s a little bit healthier, he’s getting around and that’s a relief in itself — to know that he can walk 18. Now, we’ve still got two more rounds to get through and the wind is going to pick up, so there are going to be more tests coming up.

“I told my wife, ‘We’ve got to take it one day at a time, take it a couple shots at a time.’ You can’t be thinking too far ahead. I just want to get through the week and have him fairly healthy, get another four rounds in. We’re going to eventually contend, but it’s going to take time.’’

Hank Haney, who coached Woods from 2004 to 2010, during which Woods won six of his 14 major championships, has been one of the many interested observers of his former player’s comeback from the longest layoff of his career.

“I think he wins more tournaments and at least one more major,’’ Haney said by phone Friday. “The 15 months off appear to have energized him. It’s all short game and health-dependent now. I just don’t think these top guys are so good that he can’t play with them.’’