Golf odds: Tiger tests Torrey again

By Jordan Walters
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook

Tiger Woods made his first public appearance on a golf course since his knee surgery as he played nine holes at Torrey Pines in preparation for this week's U.S. Open.

With about 200 people in the gallery on the first tee, Woods went for his usual early morning practice round just before 7 with fellow Tour pro Bubba Watson and Stanford sophomore Jordan Cox.

Woods, the WagerWeb.com favorite to win the Open at -110, ripped his first drive into the fairway and showed no signs of discomfort or stiffness in the aftermath of surgery in mid-April that has kept him off the PGA Tour for two months.

"He didn't say 'Ow' to me, so it must be good," Watson told the Associated Press.

Woods hasn't played a competitive round since finishing second in the Masters behind Trevor Immelman. He had surgery the following week and was expected to play in the Memorial two weeks ago, but decided against risking his knee.

Swing coach Hank Haney gave an upbeat assessment after the practice.

 

"He looked good," Haney said. "He'll be OK. No problems so far."

Woods, a six-time champion in the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines, looked sharp. He used his driver on every hole but the par-3s and missed only three fairways and two greens in regulation. By unofficial count, Woods made three birdies and one bogey, hit four of seven fairways and seven of nine greens. One of his birdies was at the 515-yard par-4 fifth – a par-5 during the PGA Tour's Buick Invitational event in January. He hit an iron approach from the first cut of rough to 4 feet.

"I don't think the surgery affected him at all," Cox said. "He's hitting it really, really well right now."

Asked if he could detect any rust in Woods' game, Watson didn't hesitate.


"Tiger never looks rusty," he said. "He's in a zone. It's a major. He loves this place. He loves golf. He's zoned in. He's ready to go."