Tiger roars back with bogey-free 65

The Bahamas, December 3

Tiger Woods, in his second round of competitive golf since returning from a chronic back injury that kept him out for almost 16 months, shot a flawless seven-under 65 at the World Challenge in the Bahamas.

Fourteen-time Major winner Woods, who teed off alone after partner Justin Rose of Britain pulled out of the 18-man tournament with a bad back, was three-under on the front nine and four-under on the homeward stretch. After a rollercoaster opening round, Woods displayed the type of focus and form that once made him the dominant player of his generation in his second tour of the Albany course. An eight-shot improvement from his opening 73 lifted Woods into a tie for ninth at six under, six shots back of co-leaders American Dustin Johnson (66) and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (67). 

Only defending champion Bubba Watson (63) and Brandt Snedeker (64) had better rounds on another hot, humid day. — Reuters