Tiger Woods came back from injury on Monday to shoot a betterball 9-under 63 in partnership with Justin Rose at the two-day Tavistock Cup in Florida.
Tiger in action at the Tavistock Cup
Woods, who pulled out of the WGC Cadillac Championship in the final round just eight days ago with a painful Achilles tendon, is playing for Albany against Queenwood and the original two contestants, Lake Nona and Isleworth, in an unofficial event featuring the many golfing stars that live in these four gated communities in Florida.
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"I did the smart thing and prudent thing this time," Woods said referring to his withdrawal at the Cadillac Championship, "hence I'm back in a week."
"I've done it before and played through not just pain, but injury and set myself back quite a bit. That's what I did last year and missed two major championships because of it.
"I want to be ready for Augusta (the US Masters starts there in two weeks on Thursday).
"I have to do the right thing. Unfortunately there are times when I've played when I probably shouldn't have and it's cost me."
Woods and Rose opened with two birdies, had four more in five holes to turn in 30 and reached 10 under before neither could par the 16th.
Isleworth were the first day leaders in this six-a-side competition, which concludes with singles matches on Tuesday.
Sean O'Hair and Bo Van Pelt finished with a 13 under 59, the best score of the day by four, and on a cumulative 26-under, Isleworth led by two from Lake Nona, with Albany one further back and Queenwood trailing on 17 under.
Fourball scores:
26 under Isleworth (Van Pelt/O'Hair 59, Watson/Howell 63, Chopra/Allenby 68),
24 under Lake Nona (63 Curtis/Hanson, 63 Fisher/Goosen, 66 Woodland/McDowell),
23 under Albany (63 Woods/Rose, 64 Clark/Els, 66 Poulter/Immelman),
17 under Queenwood (65 Kjeldsen/McGinley, 66 Scott/Bjorn, 68 Howell/Lewis)
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