Tiger Woods’ back held up, even after a 2 1/2-hour rain delay, but the world’s No. 1 player did not live up to his status.
Woods’ day ended after 10 holes because of rain at the Cadillac Championship at Doral outside of Miami, but he registered no birdies and two bogeys to finish at plus-2, five shots behind the leaders. At least his back, which forced him to withdraw last Sunday from the Honda Classic, seemed fit.
“Warmup was good and I felt good all day, even through the delay,” Woods said. “I’m ready to go back out tomorrow and play well.”
His day ended with a bogey at the par-5 10th, and that left him five shots behind the overnight leaders. Of the 68 players who were on the course Thursday, only seven failed to make a single birdie. Woods was one of them. Going back to the third round of the Honda, he has only one birdie in his last 26 holes. On No. 8 Thursday, Woods had a short birdie putt and missed it.
His playing partner, Adam Scott, has a chance to replace Woods at No. 1 in the world if he wins this World Golf Championship and Woods finishes worse than fifth.
Woods will play 26 more holes Friday, weather permitting.
“Should be a long day for all of us,” he said.
In 39 completed rounds so far for Woods at Doral’s “Blue Monster,” he has only shot over par three times. That includes a 73 in the final round in 2007 when he won the CA Championship.
“Hopefully, tomorrow I can get back out there in the morning, play well and work back to even par by the end of the first round,” Woods said. “Then shoot a low one in the afternoon.”
