Tiger Woods had some explaining to do Friday, about a putter so cold it left him on the verge of missing the cut, and about a chauvinist prank he played on Justin Thomas in the Genesis Invitational.
In his return to elite competition for the first time in seven months, Woods caused quite a buzz in the opening round for all the wrong reasons.
It started when he ripped a 323-yard drive, some 10 yards longer than the 29-year-old Thomas. Walking off the tee, Woods discreetly put something in Thomas’ hand, which Thomas tossed to the ground when he realized what it was — a tampon, to remind Thomas that Woods hit it farther. Woods laughed and put his arm around Thomas.
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Woods apologized after his bogey-bogey finish for a 74 in the second round, which left him over the projected cut line.
He went on to shoot a 73 in the final round on Sunday to finish the tournament at one-under par and tied for 45th.
Tiger Woods lines up his putt on the ninth green in the final round.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Tiger Woods lets go of his club while teeing off on the ninth hole during the final round.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
A group dressed in tiger colored polo shirts line the 11th fairway as Tiger Woods passes by during round two.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Tiger Woods tees off on the 18th hole in front of a large crowd during round two of the Genesis Invitational.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
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Tiger Woods smiles at Rory McIlroy after McIlroy made a 65 foot chip-in for birdie on the 12 hole during round two of the Genesis Invitational.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Tiger Woods hits out of sand trap on the 6th green during round two of the Genesis Invitational.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Tiger Woods, left, and Justin Thomas, right, share a laugh while walking with Rory McIlroy on the 13th fairway during round two of the Genesis Invitational.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Tiger Woods hits out of the greenside bunker on the 10th hole during the first round.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Tiger Woods reacts after missing a birdie putt on the seventh hole during the first round.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during the first round.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
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Tiger Woods acknowledges the crowd after a birdie on 18 to end his first round.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Tiger Woods gets a hand shake from his caddy after finishing the first round.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Fans show their support for Woods on the 13th hole.
Gina Ferazzi has been a staff photographer with the Los Angeles Times since 1994. Her photos are a part of the staff Pulitzer Prizes for breaking news in 2016 for the San Bernardino terrorist attack and for the wildfires in 2004. Her video documentaries include stories on black tar heroin, health clinics, women priests and Marine suicide. Raised in Longmeadow, Mass., she was a two-sport scholarship athlete at the University of Maine, Orono.
