Tiger Woods Finishes First Round Since Masters, Absolutely Shanks A Ball On 18

Tiger Woods is back to playing competitive golf, in a fantastic sign for the rest of this year's PGA Tour season.

For the first time since playing in The Masters in April 2023, Woods teed it up in a tour event. Unsurprisingly, he chose his hometown tournament, the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, to make his return.

And for the most part, it was an up and down round with flashes of brilliance. Woods sat at -1 after the first nine holes thanks to three birdies, but added two bogeys on the second and third holes. Three more bogeys and a birdie followed through 16, but he got back to even par with a birdie on 17. 

That's where it got fun though.

On 18, a 295-yard drive put him in A1 position on the right side of the fairway. But the next shot, well, made Woods look human and not like the best golfer of all time. A 71-yard dead shank to the right trees. Ouch.

Pacific Palisades, Calif - Tiger Woods on the twelfth hole during the first round of The Genesis Invitational golf tournament. Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

Tiger Woods' Return Still Cause For Celebration

Woods' return to the PGA Tour couldn't come at a better time for the golf world. Fans and viewers are increasingly split between the PGA and LIV, though not as many viewers have jumped to LIV as they've probably hoped for.

READ: LIV Golf Gets Absolutely Trounced In TV Ratings Last Weekend

Having the most famous player on earth back playing competitively on television can do nothing but help regain interest in a sport that's become frustratingly fractured. And if Woods is able to stay within a few shots of the lead, ratings for the Genesis will be massive.

Assuming he comes out of this weekend healthy too, it sets him up for, hopefully, more events on the calendar. And of course, The Masters again in April.

It's a tough time to be a golf fan, but no matter if your allegiances are with the PGA or LIV, we can all agree that having Tiger Woods back is a positive development for the sport. Especially when he's doing something as relatable as shanking a ball into the woods.