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The golf world watched as Tiger Woods improved on Friday on the Hero World Problem.
Whereas it was removed from good, he fired off a 2-under 70, 5 pictures higher than his 75 from Thursday.
After such a tricky first spherical, it was anybody’s guess as to what Woods would do on the course.
“It was higher than yesterday, for positive. I’ve been extra dedicated than I used to be yesterday. I made just a few errors and total the spherical was higher, for positive,” Woods mentioned. “The beginning was higher. The center a part of the spherical was higher. I missed a pair putts there in direction of the top I believed would have stored the spherical going and sadly it stalled out a bit bit.”
He began the day robust with 4 birdies on the entrance 9, however very like his first spherical, the again 9 gave him hassle. Woods made bogey on three of the final six holes but in addition tallied his fifth birdie on the seventeenth to complete with some momentum.
Following his spherical, Woods detailed each the psychological and bodily limitations he nonetheless struggles with.
“I believe it’s all the above [mental and physical], and I simply haven’t completed it. I haven’t performed in six months,” he mentioned. “Issues aren’t as sharp as they usually can be… There’s some good in there, and simply bought to ensure that the nice is extra constant than it has been.”
Woods hasn’t performed a aggressive spherical of golf since April on the Masters. He has referred to his recreation as rusty quite a lot of instances this week.
“It’s totally different,” Woods mentioned. “Like I used to be saying yesterday, recreation velocity’s totally different than residence velocity. You’ll be able to simulate all you need at residence, and I had it one of the best I probably can. We performed some huge cash matches at residence and tried to simulate it, but it surely’s simply totally different. The thoughts’s racing extra, the nervousness, the feelings are simply totally different than at residence.”
The 82-time PGA Tour winner is strolling higher, however that doesn’t imply the whole lot is the place he desires it to be.
“You’ll be able to at all times drop a ball at residence, no large deal,” he mentioned. “Right here it’s going to price you. Placing pen and paper collectively, it’s just a bit bit totally different.”
With regards to Woods, the expectations are at all times at an all-time excessive. Folks need him to compete and contend. The five-time Masters winner wouldn’t enter a contest if he didn’t really feel like a win was doable.
“This week is a superb beta check to determine what I can do, the plan goes ahead, what we’re going to do within the gymnasium, what I must do, and simply total analyze what it’s wish to compete and play,” Woods mentioned. “The issues I must strengthen and the issues I must work on within the gymnasium to be prepared for subsequent 12 months and the following season.”
The great factor is that he’s taking part in a PGA Tour occasion and continues to insist that his ankle is pain-free.
With two rounds left, Woods will get a good suggestion of the place issues are with him forward of the 2024 PGA Tour season, notably along with his stamina taking part in 72 holes. Thus far, he seems higher than what followers noticed in April, which is encouraging.
Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. You’ll be able to comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for extra golf protection. Make sure to take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.
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