Sean Martin on the PGA TOUR Website
March 11, 2018: Brandt Snedeker could only laugh after the chip-in that gave Tiger Woods a share of the Saturday lead at the Valspar Championship.
Snedeker was playing alongside Woods in the second-to-last group, trying to end a victory drought of his own. But even he enjoyed watching Woods hit the sort of shots the golf world has been aching to see.
Snedeker called the shot “vintage Tiger.” The crowds confirmed that Woods’ return is no longer about reps. It’s about victories.
“The roars are back,” Snedeker said.
Yes they are. It’s been more than two decades since Woods played at Innisbrook, but his return to the resort near Florida’s Gulf Coast has been worth the wait. It was borderline bedlam after Woods made back-to-back birdies at the Copperhead Course’s ninth and 10th holes, and it should be more of the same Sunday as Woods seeks his first victory since 2013.
“It’s fun to hear the crowd going crazy again,” Snedeker said.
They enjoyed every minute of Woods’ third-round 67, his lowest score of this comeback season. He’ll start Sunday in a three-way tie for second place, one shot behind rookie Corey Conners. Sam Burns, the 21-year-old who beat Woods at The Honda Classic, and Patrick Reed are tied for fifth, three shots off the lead.
“I am excited. I feel good,” said Woods, who’s made just two bogeys in the past 36 holes. “I feel like I’m playing a bit better and cleaner.”
Conners, a 26-year-old rookie who unsuccessfully tried to Monday qualify before getting in the field, has led since the first round. Playing in Woods’ wake, Conners fired a 3-under 68 that puts him at 9-under 204.
The even-keeled Canadian handled himself well in an unprecedented situation, but it will be different when Woods dons the red and black on Sunday.
It will be a new situation for Woods, as well. He hasn’t won in five years, enduring four back surgeries since his last PGA TOUR win.
“I was living from minute to minute,” Woods said. “You have no idea how hard it was.”
Woods called back fusion the “last resort,” but it was the procedure that made him healthy enough to compete again. Not even he could have guessed that he’d be in this position so soon, though.
He said he’s still learning about his post-fusion swing, but he’s obviously been a quick study. Sunday will be just his 14th round of the season.
The 79-time TOUR winner will play in front of Conners for the second consecutive day. Conners and Rose will tee off at 2 p.m. in Sunday’s final group, 10 minutes after Snedeker and Woods. Justin Rose, Snedeker and Woods are all tied for second, one shot back.
“You feel it and hear it,” he said.
Woods made his first birdie of the day with a 20-footer at the third hole that snuck in the hole after he thought he’d left it short. Then he hit his second shot over the green on the 611-yard, par-5 fifth hole after a 321-yard drive to the uphill fairway. A deft chip left him with a tap-in birdie.
“We were joking today back at the house that I hit so many good chips that haven’t gone in yet,” he said.
He sank one four holes later, on a touchy downhill chip from a tough lie. He was tied for the lead after the hole-out.
“I finally got one,” Woods said.
He holed a 22-footer for birdie at the next hole, then missed birdie putts from inside 10 feet on the next two holes. His lone bogey came on the par-3 13th after he pulled his tee shot left of the green. He reached the green at the par-5 14th with a long-iron second shot to make his final birdie of the day.
It wasn’t long ago that Woods was uncertain about whether he’d be able to play golf again.
Now a victory seems like a certainty. It may not come Sunday, where he’ll face a tightly-packed leaderboard, but he’s proven that he’s capable of earning his 80th PGA TOUR win sooner than later, and continuing his pursuit of Sam Snead’s record.
“It’s like riding a bike,” Woods said, “but it’s a new bike.
