Tiger Woods made a comeback to the US PGA Tour after over 10 months, posting a one-over par 72 at the Genesis Invitational. This marked his first tour-sanctioned event since ankle surgery in April, and Woods attributed some erratic shots, including a surprising shank on the 18th, to back spasms from spinal fusion surgery. Despite five birdies and six bogeys, Woods finished eight shots behind the first-round leader, Patrick Cantlay.
World No 7 Cantlay had a stellar round, carding an impressive seven-under 64 at The Riviera Country Club. His round included eight birdies, giving him a one-stroke lead over Australians Cam Davis and Jason Day, along with American Luke List. Despite an unexpected bogey on the 16th, where his tee shot hit a tree, Cantlay's overall performance was strong, showcasing proficiency on the greens with crucial birdie putts.
Woods acknowledged a lack of sharpness after a lengthy layoff, with only two "soft" tuneup events in December. He described his round as a mix of good and indifferent moments, highlighting the challenge of finding consistency. Cantlay, an eight-time PGA Tour winner, expressed satisfaction with his performance, emphasizing a great start and successful putting, positioning himself for a strong contention in the tournament.
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