Tiger Woods suffered a difficult return to action at the Frys.com Open, firing a double bogey at the 12th on his way to a two-over-par 73.
Woods, playing his first tournament in nearly two months, started the day with a birdie but managed only one more as he finished the day six shots back from the leader.
“That’s probably one of the worst putting rounds I’ve ever had,” said Woods, who could miss consecutive cuts for the first time as a professional.
“I can’t putt any worse than today.”
The former world number one has not played since failing to make the cut at the US PGA Championship in August, after suffering injuries to his left knee and left Achilles tendon.
TIGER WOODS IN 2011
- US PGA missed cut
- WGC Invitational T37th
- Players Ch’ship withdrew
- Masters T4th
- Arnold Palmer T24th
- WGC Cadillac T10th
- WGC Match Play T33rd
- Farmers Insurance T44th
However, his putting aside, he was relatively pleased with his play as he looks to halt a slump that has seen him drop out of the world’s top 50 for the first time in almost 15 years and without a win since the 2009 Australian Masters.
“The rest of the game was not too bad,” said Woods, who was partnered by new caddie Joe LaCava for the first time.
“I hit some bad shots, yes. But also, I hit some really good ones. I’m very pleased at the shots I was hitting most of the day.
“But I got nothing out of the round on the greens. And whatever momentum I could have gotten by hitting good shots – you know, I just missed putts.”