Valspar Championship Final Round

March 11 14:47 2018

The 42-year-old former world number one shot five birdies, four bogeys and nine pars to finish the day with a cluster of 20 players who were three back from first-round leader Corey Conners, who posted a four-under-par 67.

When Woods returned to the competitive fray in December at the Hero World Challenge, which could best be described as a rehab start, he spoke of his dramatically improved health and a genuine desire to be back on Tour. It was nothing short of a medical Hail Mary.

When he made the birdie on 10, he was briefly in the lead.

Yet here we are. He tapped in for a birdie and his best start in almost three years. After just 13 rounds this year, he is on the precipice of one of the greatest comeback stories in all of sports, not just golf.

Conners still settled himself with a wedge he almost holed on No. 9 for a birdie of his own. Rory McIlroy, who like Woods was making his debut in this event, played in the morning and shot 74.

Over 54 remarkable holes here, with expectations starting low and swelling higher, Woods has proved he can still play.

He had no idea what was going to happen with his ball sitting near an oak tree at the par-4 16th. I did a lot of guessing, I guessed pretty good.

He has shot five rounds in the 60s, three of them in the Bahamas, but has managed to stay around par for all but two rounds. The crowd swelled to eight deep, and it was vocal. Woods plays right in front of them with Snedeker, who also had a 67. Not that he minded.

“It’s really cool, ” Conners said.

“I was able to feed off a lot of energy today”, Snedeker added. “A couple big roars put a smile on my face”.

“Into the wind, it felt like you just hit walls”, he said. “I don’t know what my future holds for me”. “Just kind of vintage Tiger”. “I think the way it works best is if you’re either with (Tiger) or behind it”.

Under the best of circumstances in recent years Woods has been little more than a curiosity who more often generated headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Shane Lowry carded a one-under 70 and is one under for the tournament, seven shots off the lead.

Still, Woods is trying to temper expectations, as he has all year.

“I don’t see it going backward from here”, said Snedeker, who played a round with Woods at Torrey Pines and twice at the Honda Classic.

While at Kent State, Conners listed Woods as one of the golfers he’d most like to play with in a foursome.

None, though, loom as large as Woods. He has gone on to win 62 of the previous 69 instances (win percentage of 89.9).

Tiger Woods, in only his fourth start since returning from injury, moved into a tie for second place at the halfway point of the Valspar Championship in Florida on Friday.

“I’m excited”, Woods said again. “So nice and just been into it and into this event and I played myself right there in contention so it will be a fun Sunday”.

Corey Conners acknowledges the following a putt on the third hole during the third round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament. | AP

Valspar Championship Final Round
 
 
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