Tiger Woods in need of a miracle to avoid 20th consecutive loss – Golf update
To the disappointment of his fans across the world, Tiger Woods, who was expected to bounce back on his favourite hunting ground, ended the first round with one-over for 73. The former World number one who was coming from some promising finishes in his last
week’s 6-under for 66 at Doral and an amazing 8-under par for 64 in Tavistock was pitched to stage a comeback at the Arnold Palmer Invitational being played at Bay Hill Golf Club and Lodge. Woods has won the event six times and his last two were some of the
grand finishes of his career. The decisive 18th hole, where the champion had lifted two of the coveted titles proved to be the toughest when he bogeyed it starting off with a losing tee.
Windy conditions and high temperatures throughout the day proved fatal to many of the top contenders. The World number four, Greame McDowel, probably had the worst day finishing 8-over par. He suffered no less than six bogeys and another triple bogey for
the par-five sixth and was able to pull in only one birdie.
But all eyes were on the celebrated Woods, who had his first opening rounds in his 11 appearances at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and has never opened with an over par score. He had been working with his new coach Sean Foley for the past eight months,
trying to incorporate changes in his swing, something which has received negative criticism for a long time. Woods is now out of the top 30 after the first round and is seven behind Spencer Levin and it will take nothing short of a miracle to help him lift
the title. Currently ranked at world number five, Woods is without a win for more than a year and has lost 19 high profile tournaments in a row. After finishing top ten at Doral, Woods was confident that he was finally seeing some good signs from the changes
in his swing. The disappointing first round could not have come at a worse time as the 14-Major-Winner is desperately trying to regain his form before the Masters.
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