PARAMUS, N.J. — Yes, that really was Tiger Woods’ name atop the leaderboard.
In his first tournament since his divorce, Woods finally looked like the No. 1 player in the world Thursday at the Barclays when he opened with a 6-under-par 65, his lowest score of the year, to share the lead with Vaughn Taylor. It was Woods’ first time leading after a round on the PGA Tour since the Tour Championship last September.
“It’s exciting to hit the ball flush again,” Woods said. “It’s something I’ve been missing all year.”
He didn’t miss much at Ridgewood Country Club. Woods hit all but one fairway and putted for birdie on all but two holes. And while he hit his driver only twice, they were two of his best shots of the day — including on the 291-yard fifth hole, where his drive landed pin-high and settled 15 feet away.
Was it just a coincidence that his game showed up so soon after his divorce?
“I can’t really say that’s the case,” he said. “As far as golf, it was nice to put it together.”
Woods and Taylor played in the morning, when the greens were smooth and the conditions were only breezy. They had a one-shot lead over Adam Scott, Brian Gay and Ryan Palmer. Scott played in the afternoon, when a gust of wind played tricks on him at the final hole and led to bogey. Phil Mickelson, with his ninth chance in the last four months to replace Woods at No. 1 in the world, made only one birdie for a 72.
Wie comes up aces to take Canadian lead
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Michelle Wie had the second hole-in-one of her professional career on the way to a 7-under 65 and a three- shot lead over Sarah Kemp after the first round of the CN Canadian Women’s Open.
Defending champion Suzann Pettersen was in third place with a 69.
Former University of Denver player Katie Kempter shot a 1-under 71 and is six strokes behind Wie. Her former Pioneer teammate, Stephanie Sherlock, is at the back of the field after an 80 in her first LPGA tournament after turning pro. Tour veteran Jill McGill of Denver is in a tie for 46th after a 1-over 73.
Finch’s 66 tops Johnnie Walker leaderboard
GLENEAGLES, Scotland — Richard Finch shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead over Robert Rock, Richard Bland, Gary Boyd, David Lynne and Stephen Gallacher after the first round of the Johnnie Walker Championship.
