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Tiger Woods has never been known to plod to victory. But as his rehab as a golfer and a person continues, Woods is happy to take any unglamorous route he needs to win another tournament, 12 months after his sexual exploits ruined his marriage and his game.
The world No.2 opened the defence of the only title he still owns with a positive two-under-par round of 69 at the Australian Masters on Thursday and, while he rued a tentative putter, says it was still his best first round since his self-imposed lay off.
His presence at Victoria Golf Club lacked the electricity of last year’s appearance at Kingston Heath as a smaller and more subdued gallery followed the fallen idol.
He teed off at 7.27am to the caw of the crows rather than the roar of the crowd but as his following built to a couple of thousand on the back nine they saw a man missing his old aura, but finding his old game.
“I really played well, I hit a lot of good shots and gave myself a bunch of looks early for birdie and every putt was left a little bit shy,” he said.
“Coming in, I tried to hit the putts a little harder but kept leaving them short.
“It could have easily been four, five, six under par today but I’m right there, I’m only four back as of now.
“I’m just plodding along, just trying to get myself there.”
He only missed two fairways on his way to three birdies and a bogey and said it was his best opening round since returning to golf in April after going into exile when his extra marital affairs were exposed following last year’s Australian Masters triumph.
It was also, he said, his best day since beginning the reconstruction of his swing under new coach Sean Foley.
“I’ve certainly not hit the ball like this in a first round. I hit it pretty good in China last week but not like this today,” he said.
“If I just could have holed a few more putts, it could been a really good round.”
While not quite in the trenches, Woods was in a bunker when play stopped at 11am for the last post and a minute’s silence on Remembrance Day.
It was fitting for a man fighting his way back. And he fought his way out of that sticky moment on the sixth, salvaging a par, just as he did after finding the trees on the 18th.
Last year, it was the fans in the trees, rather than Woods’ ball, as they tried to catch a glimpse of the near unbackable then world No.1.
But while the tee-off time kept the early crowds away on Thursday, Woods was still the main attraction.
He received polite applause as he walked to his first tee and only earned a roar late in his round.
While heckling was banned, a lone fan used Woods’ real name, as a scolding mother would, when he urged him on at his second hole with a “c’mon Eldrick”.
“Seven o’clock is a little early for most people,” Woods said.
“They certainly came out on the back nine and it was a great atmosphere to play in front of.”
Australian Brett Rumford dismissed any suggestions Woods has lost his aura after partnering him for the first time on Thursday.
“No, no, no,” Rumford insisted.
“He’s not very far away, that’s for sure. He hit some real quality golf shots out there today.”