Woods bounces back with 66

He followed his best round since 2013 – a first-day 64 – with one nearly as good.

William McGirt, Erik Compton and Tom Hoge share the first-round lead of the Wyndham Championship, however most of the roars have been in response to on Thursday at Sedgefield Nation Membership. “The bells started going off, so I think he was excited”. “Maybe I should do that again”, Compton joked to reporters. After a bogey-birdie combo on the 7th and 8th holes, Tiger finished his front nine 1-under. Golf Channel knows that if more people are tuning in to watch Woods, then Golf Channel had better show as many of his shots as they can.

SNOQUALMIE, Wash. (AP) – Larry Mize birdied the par-5 18th hole for a 5-under 67 and a two-stroke lead over Fred Couples and four others after the first round of the Champions Tour’s Boeing Classic.

Asked afterward if he knew who Hoge (pronounced Hoagie) is or if he would recognize him, Woods said: “No, I wouldn’t”.

Level with Woods on six-under are Carl Pettersson and major winners Martin Kaymer and Davis Love III, with a group of nine players that includes Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama a further shot back.

Clubhouse leader Hoge started poorly, dropping two shots in his first five holes, but he was five-under the rest of the way.

After a wet golf course earlier in the week conditions firmed up on day two and despite the greens being Bermuda grass they were particularly fast.

Woods, a 14-time major victor and former world No. 1, entered this tournament ranked 286th and in 187th place in the FedExCup rankings.

Woods, who trails Slammin’ Sammy by three titles, would win his 80th Tour event this week if he can hold off the likes of Hoge.

‘It was definitely something I wasn’t expecting on the range this morning but great to get it, ‘ said Snedeker who credited a seven-foot birdie effort at his second hole for setting the tone for his round.

The score was a welcome sight for Woods, who posted his lowest score on the PGA Tour since a 61 in the second round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in 2013. “I didn’t quite hit the ball as I did yesterday and I kept leaving myself above the hole”.

“I’m excited a new position for me but we will see what happens and hopefully two more good rounds and we will see where it goes”. “I’m just working on trying to win this event and let’s go about it from there”.

Late previous year, in the aftermath of the U.S. Ryder Cup team’s loss at Gleneagles, Love and Woods were named to the Ryder Cup task force, and their friendship has grown from there one text message at a time.