Tiger Woods continues to miss fairways like it's part of some grand plan, but at some point -- if not this week, then next -- it's going to catch up with him. The World No. 1 was able to overpower a watered-down field and a forgiving golf course last week at the Buick Open, but Firestone Country Club, site of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational is a much sterner test.
Still, despite most of his second shots originating from well off the fairway, Tiger continues to manage his way around the property. After Thursday's 2-under, 68, Woods is tied for eighth, four shots off the lead. (Padraig Harrington turned in an opening day 64.)
Tiger will no doubt spend his evening on the range continuing to tweak his swing (just a thought -- and maybe this is oversimplifying it -- but how about Tiger swing at, say, 75 percent with his 3-wood and take the 265 yards off the tee if it means being in the fairway?), but his comments on Wednesday offered some perspective about the current state of his game, particularly given that he was off for eight months rehabilitating his surgically repaired knee.
"If you had asked me at the beginning of the year, before I even played, whether I'd have four wins by now I, I couldn't see it. Because, you know, walking 18 holes was going to be a task.
"Looking back on it now, playing the match play, where I was physically then and where I'm at now is just night and day. It was hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, especially when I was just starting back. And to not only win, but be as consistent as I've been the entire year coming back. That's one of the things I'm probably most proud of."
I think we sometimes forget about Tiger's knee surgery. I mean, we remember that he was out for the second half of last season, but I think we just assume that once he magically appears on our teevees, everything is like it has always been. Except Woods' knee doesn't know that.
But maybe none of that matters this week. Tiger has won this event six times and never finished lower than fourth.
