Tiger
wood's rolled out in six hurried including a 71 footer at the seventh hole , to leap into contention Thursday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational led by Henrik Stenson.
Woods , thev14 time major champion and eight time winner at Bay Hill, started early and showed the peak form that sparked his best finish in five years last week.
"It was just getting a feel for playing tournament golf again and I think I have it," said woods , who is playing the fifth USPGA tour event since returning in January from spinal fusion surgery last April.
*I'm not thinking as much around the golf course . I can just see it, feel it and go. That's because I've got my feels ' back."
Three weeks before the start of the masters, the year's first major tournament , woods showed none of the back pain that side lined him most of the past two seasons. He has undergone four back operations, doubting at one stage if he would ever return to competitive golf. " I enjoy just playing again . after what I have been through , just playing again. After what I have feels good , " woods said.
Told that Las Vegas odds makers were making him the masters favorite based on his past week's performance , woods said , " A lot of gamble - holics out there."
" we have a long way to go . it's just the first day to go and hopefully I can cap it off with a nice win ."
Sweden's Stenson made nine birdies against a lone bogey to open with a 64.
American rookies Aaron wise and Talor Gooch were tied for second on 65.
Jimmy walker , the 2916 PGA Championship winner , holed out from 132 yards for an eagle on the 18th fairway to complete an opening 67 that left him tied with Rockie Flower and Brayson DeChambeau , one stroke ahead of woods.
Woods , thev14 time major champion and eight time winner at Bay Hill, started early and showed the peak form that sparked his best finish in five years last week.
"It was just getting a feel for playing tournament golf again and I think I have it," said woods , who is playing the fifth USPGA tour event since returning in January from spinal fusion surgery last April.
*I'm not thinking as much around the golf course . I can just see it, feel it and go. That's because I've got my feels ' back."
Three weeks before the start of the masters, the year's first major tournament , woods showed none of the back pain that side lined him most of the past two seasons. He has undergone four back operations, doubting at one stage if he would ever return to competitive golf. " I enjoy just playing again . after what I have been through , just playing again. After what I have feels good , " woods said.
Told that Las Vegas odds makers were making him the masters favorite based on his past week's performance , woods said , " A lot of gamble - holics out there."
" we have a long way to go . it's just the first day to go and hopefully I can cap it off with a nice win ."
Sweden's Stenson made nine birdies against a lone bogey to open with a 64.
American rookies Aaron wise and Talor Gooch were tied for second on 65.
Jimmy walker , the 2916 PGA Championship winner , holed out from 132 yards for an eagle on the 18th fairway to complete an opening 67 that left him tied with Rockie Flower and Brayson DeChambeau , one stroke ahead of woods.