Tiger Woods is three-under par after his first round of year

Reporting from La Jolla, Calif. --

18th hole (No. 9) North Course, Par 5, 547 yards

Tiger came into his 18th hole needing to salvage something of his par fives, having had a very undistinguished day on the holes that should be the easiest for him. His drive rolled into some heavy rough on the right, leaving him needing a power shot to get near the green. And that’s exactly what he did, just clearing a trap and landing in some thick grass just off the green. A good save, all things considered. But things could have turned out better on his downhill chip and run from the edge of the green. The ball came out tentatively, and he left himself about a 12-footer for birdie. His birdie putt wasn’t firm enough to hold the line and leaked off to the right giving him his fourth par on a par five. Still, it was a respectable day for Tiger, with 15 pars and three birdies. The key: no bogeys. He does need to shore up his driving, hitting only about 36% of the fairways. He hit 72% of the greens in regulation. When he left the course, he was tied for 14th, three strokes behind the four golfers tied for the lead. Tiger finished his round three under.

17th hole (No. 8) North Course, Par 4, 436 yards

All the joy of two holes back evaporated on this hole as Tiger put his drive into his first trap of the day about 180 yards from the hole. He caught his sand shot a little fat, causing him to violently slam his club into the grass near the trap and to elevate his swearing game to a word that if said twice gets you a R rating. The ball landed in the tall rough, short and to the left of the hole. He chipped on the green and left himself about an eight-footer for par -- his first really challenging par putt of the day. But he pulled himself together and drilled his putt into the bottom of the hole to save par. A fan said, “Good sand save,” and Tiger acknowledged it with a thank you. Tiger is three under after 17 holes.

16th hole (No. 7) North Course, Par 4, 399 yards

Suddenly, Tiger has taken a round that at times has been disappointing -- his play on par fives -- and brought it back to life with a rock-solid string of pars mixed with three birdies. He caught a bit of minor bad luck on his drive as a strong drive down the middle trickled just into the light rough on this hole that doglegs to the right. Tiger’s approach was good, landing about 10 feet from the hole. His putt was strong but missed on the left. Tiger threw up his arms in disgust. Certainly a missed opportunity on a day when the leaderboard was getting very crowded. Tiger is three under after 16 holes.

15th hole (No. 6) North Course, Par 3, 212 yards

As Tiger prepared to tee off on his 15th hole of the day, a plane flew overhead pulling a banner for the Cheetah’s Gentleman’s Club. He didn’t notice. His shot on this difficult hole was safe, landing about 18 feet to the left of the pin. Tiger’s putt had just enough pace to settle into the bottom of the hole for his third birdie of the day. He threw his arms up in the first real display of positive emotion on the day. Tiger is three under after 15 holes.

14th hole (No. 5) North Course, Par 4, 411 yards

Tiger seemed to have found his accuracy off the tee on the second nine with a perfect drive and then a strong second shot leaving him about 11 feet from the pin. But while his driving seems to have clicked, his putting was still a work in progress. His putt landed about an inch short of the hole and was followed by a patented Tiger grimace. Meanwhile the leaderboard was getting a bit crowded with four golfers at five under. Tiger was in a tie for 21st. Tiger is two under after 14 holes.

13th hole (No. 4) North Course, Par 4, 434 yards

Tiger has had trouble hitting fairways so far this round, but you wouldn’t know it from his drive on this hole. “He killed it,” yelled one fan as Tiger left himself about 100 yards short of the hole. His approach shot flew past the hole on the left and backspin brought it back to about 15 feet from the hole. Tiger was not happy with the shot, swiping his club at the fairway after he hit it. Tiger’s putt then slid by about 2 feet, and he tapped back in for his 11th par of the day. Tiger is two under after 13 holes.

12th hole (No. 3) North Course, Par 3, 184 yards

The birdie on No. 2 (11th hole of the day) was a big boost for Tiger’s standing, moving him into a tie for 13th heading into his 12th hole. His iron shot on the par three put him about 20 feet from the hole, but his birdie putt missed to the left. Meanwhile, Sunghoon Kang moved into first with a spectacular five under after nine holes. Tiger is two under after 12 holes.

11th hole (No. 2) North Course, Par 4, 329 yards

Tiger hit a strong drive leaving him about 65 yards from the hole in a slight rough on the edge of a trap. But then there was a flash of the Tiger of old as his chip shot nestled 3 feet from the cup and he made the putt for birdie. Still, despite his second birdie of the day, there was no smile. Is this the start of a rally? Tiger is two under after 11 holes.

10th hole (No. 1) North Course, Par 5, 519 yards

The first hole on the North Course (his 10th of the day) seemed like a perfect opportunity for Tiger to get his game in gear with his third par five. But once again he came up short. When he finally reached the green in three, he had a 10-foot putt for birdie. He stood over the ball and then launched into a coughing fit that might have broken his concentration. His putt slid just by on the left. Opportunity lost ? again. Tiger is one under after 10 holes.

9th hole (No. 18) North Course, Par 5, 516 yards

As Tiger approached his last hole of the first nine, a fan yelled, “You need an eagle here.” Well, yeah, that’s no doubt what Tiger was thinking, although there are 64 holes to play. His tee shot headed off to the right causing him to say, “Damn, go way right.” Still, there are lots of chances for recovery. Tiger’s ball landed about 260 yards from the pin. Not a problem if there wasn’t a tree branch in the way. Then Tiger hit a massive three wood that landed just short of the green in the heavy rough. Not exactly what he hoped for. But, he hit a flop shot to within 10 feet leaving him with a very makeable birdie putt. Once again, his putting failed him as the ball slid to the left leaving him with his second par on the two par fives. For Tiger, he had to have found his first nine disappointing with eight pars and one birdie. He was tied for 28th. His driving accuracy was a pitiful 42.86%, hitting 77.78% of greens in regulation. Brandt Jobe and Sunghoon Kang were tied for first at four under. Tiger was one under after nine holes.

8th hole (No. 17) North Course, Par 3, 171 yards

Tiger’s tee shot on this relatively short par three landed about 15 feet to right of the pin. Again, this is a test to see how sharp Tiger’s game is. If he’s going to play himself into contention, these are the putts that he will have to make. But it didn’t happen. He had the right speed but missed to the right, leaving himself a 2 ½-foot comebacker. He made it and moved on the second par 5 on the back nine of the North Course. Tiger is one under after eight holes.

7th hole (No. 16), North Course, Par 4, 392 yards

As group walked to the 16th tee, Tiger said to Kim, “How about these holes? How about 11?” The North Course is considered the easier of the two courses at Torrey Pines, and it’s important to take advantage when you can. Tiger’s drive went down the middle, leaving him far less than 100 yards to the green. Tiger showed he is taking this seriously as he and Kim both walked off the distance to the green and then back to their spots on the fairway. But, again, the result was less than he hoped. He decelerated a little too much on his swing, leaving him 30 feet short of the hole. Even his putt came up short and he had to settle for a par after a strong start to the hole. Tiger is one under after seven holes.

6th hole (No. 15) North Course, Par 4, 397 yards

Tiger was up first on the par 4 and it appeared to be down the middle, but the ball dribbled into the left fringe. As he walked down the fairway, Rocco Mediate put his arm around Tiger’s shoulder and whispered into his ear. Wonder what he said? Whatever it was, it didn’t help. Tiger chunked his second shot, leaving it short of the green. His chip also was unspectacular, leaving him an eight-foot putt for par. But just when he looked like he was wavering, his putt went dead solid perfect in the middle of the cup for a scrambling par. Tiger is one under after six holes.

5th hole (No. 14) North Course, Par 5, 526 yards

This is a key hole to see how Tiger is doing. It’s a relatively short par 5 and it’s the kind of hole he has to dominate if he hopes to contend. He didn’t start great as his tee shot landed in the left rough, eliciting a grumble from Tiger. The rough was, well, rough, and Tiger had to punch out, leaving him about 115 yards short of the hole. Not what he wanted on a very reachable par 5. Tiger’s approach landed about 15 feet to the cup. For the Tiger of old, this was money in the bank. But alas, this is the newly refurbished Tiger, and after an obligatory practice stroke, his putt rimmed out for a very disappointing par. His slumping shoulders captured his mood. Tiger is one under after five holes

4th hole (No. 13) North Course, Par 4, 471 yards

The picturesque hole has the golfers teeing off with the ocean at their back. Tiger drove it right down the middle for about 300 yards, leaving him a short-iron to the green. He has hit every fairway so far. He continues to get encouragement from the crowd. “Come on Tiger,” one woman yelled. Tiger acknowledged her with a nod.

He pushed his second shot to the right, and it came up short, about 30 feet below the hole. He rolled his birdie putt about two feet past the hole on the right, then made par. It’s certainly early, but Tiger is only two shots out of the lead, currently held by John Daly -- yes, that John Daly -- and Bill Haas. Tiger is tied for ninth. Lots of golf left to play. Tiger is one under after four holes.

3rd hole (No. 12) North Course, Par 3, 214 yards

Approaching the 12th tee (third hole of the day), a young boy yells: “There’s Tiger. He’s got the purple shirt.” Lots of nervous laughter followed. This is one of the signature holes with the ocean behind it. With the wind and placements, it is playing more like 230 yards. “In the hole,” is heard for the first time this morning, and Tiger comes close, landing his long-iron shot to within three feet. Kim, whose second shot left the green, chipped in for a par. Tiger then sank his birdie putt. No smile. Lots of cheers. Tiger is one under after three holes.

2nd hole (No. 11) North Course, Par 4, 492 yards

Everyone drove right down the middle on their second hole of the day. Tiger, however, veered off for a visit to one of the portable toilets. (Good thing there is not a line.) He emerged a few minutes later with his sweater off and neatly folded. Tiger’s second shot, from about 160 yards out, landed about 30 feet above the hole. His first roll at a birdie came up short but he got the tap-in for the par. Kim birdied the hole. Tiger is even after two holes.

1st hole (No. 10) North Course, Par 4, 417 yards

Rocco Mediate and Anthony Kim teed off first, putting the ball down the middle. Tiger hit third, using a three-wood, and blasted it down the middle. His approach shot to the green missed the green, landing in six-inch rough. No problem; he chipped out to within two feet of the cup. Pars for the entire group. Tiger Woods, even after one hole.

Teeing off

The 2011 PGA Tour season officially got underway Thursday -- at least as far as fan interest -- at 9 a.m. PST as Tiger Woods teed off at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open. Tiger is playing with Rocco Mediate and Anthony Kim. There are two courses at Torrey Pines; Tiger’s group is going on the 10th tee of the North Course.

Tiger arrived at the tee wearing a light black sweater and pants, and a purple shirt. He greeted Mediate with a handshake and said “Good to see you.”

Come back for more as we follow Tiger’s round hole-by-hole.