ORLANDO, Fla. – In their own way, ex-Arizona Wildcat Jason Gore and Tiger Woods changed their fortunes Thursday at Bay Hill.
Gore was not seeing any results from an overhaul to his swing until he ran off three birdies over the final four holes for a 5-under 65 that gave him a one-shot lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Woods was in the water, in the trees and in a foul mood until he had eight consecutive one-putts – including four straight birdies – that put him in a good frame of mind with a 68 on a course where he has won five times as a pro.
“I was not hitting it well, and I had to scramble and grind it out and manage to score,” Woods said. He managed just fine, taking only 24 putts in the first round after ranking 74th in putting out of 79 players at Doral two weeks ago.
Tim Herron, who won Bay Hill in a playoff 10 years ago, and Jeff Overton had a 66, while the group at 67 included the ever-present Nick Watney and Mark Wilson, who had reason to feel outclassed on the first tee but more than held his own.
Wilson was in the same group as Woods and Padraig Harrington, who have won five of the last six majors. Wilson has his own history with Woods, having lost a late lead in 1992 when Woods rallied to win his second U.S. Junior Amateur.
But Wilson had the best day of the threesome. Harrington saved par from the water on the 18th for a 70.
“Scored best of the three,” Wilson said, a slight distinction. “I had a good time out there. I love playing with Tiger. The electricity and the energy on that first tee is something else with him.”
Imagine the surge on the opening hole, when Woods had a difficult flop shot from about 30 yards that had to carry a bunker. Wilson wondered if Woods might begin his title defense at Bay Hill with a double bogey. Then he watched Woods’ shot pitch about 6 feet from the hole and roll like a putt into the cup for birdie.
Woods hit a tee shot into the water at No. 6 for double bogey, was lucky to escape with pars at the turn and made four birdies on the back nine to get off to a good start.
LPGA Tour
PHOENIX – South Korea’s In-Kyung Kim shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in the J Golf Phoenix LPGA International.
Kim had a one-stroke lead over countrywomen Jiyai Shin, Imbee Park and Eun-Hee Ji and American Cristie Kerr.