Tiger Woods Shoots 69 in Australian Masters' Opening Round

Filed under: Golf Odds and Ends

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Tiger Woods hit the ball as well as he has all year, except on the greens.

In his final title defense of a forgettable year, Woods opened the Australian Masters with a 2-under 69 and was four shots behind the early leaders Thursday at Victoria Golf Club.

Woods missed only two greens in regulation, both times saving par from a bunker. But he took 19 putts on his outward nine, and had to hole a 7-foot par putt on the final hole to avoid his second three-putt bogey.

Alistair Presnell and Adam Bland each at a 6-under 65, one shot clear of a group that included PGA Tour winner Andre Stolz. Geoff Ogilvy, who was a member at Victoria as a teenager, opened with a 72.

"That was probably the highest score I could have shot," Woods said. "I gave myself a lot of looks early. I just didn't kept leaving them short. The only bogey I had was a three-putt."

Woods hit driver only on the par 5s, opting to play for position with a 2-iron and occasional 3-wood as he did a year ago at Kingston Heath when he won for the first time Down Under. Woods captured his 82nd title worldwide last year, and finished off another strong season with seven wins.

Twelve days later, he was in a car accident outside his Florida home that led to revelations of infidelity.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/11/10/tiger-woods-shoots-69-in-australian-masters-opening-round/

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