Sebastian Munoz. File Pic
Thousand Oaks, California, Oct 23: Tiger Woods struggled to 4-over 76 as his title defence at the Zozo Championships @ Sherwood got off to a shaky start on Thursday. Woods lay in an unfamiliar T-75 place in the 77-man field on a day when he found only seven of the 13 fairways on a day when he had just two birdies against four bogeys and a double bogey.
Meanwhile, Colombian Sebastian Munoz got off to a dream start as he eclipsed the stars with two eagles while taking a one-shot lead with a brilliant 8-under 64 in the first round, which ironically began with a three-putt bogey from seven feet.
Tyrell Hatton continued his rich vein of form as he was one behind Munoz with a 7-under 65, a score also shot by the 2017 FedExCup champion, Justin Thomas, in the US$8 million tournament which has moved from its home base in Japan to the U.S. due to the coronavirus.
Woods’ who has won the Hero World Challenge five times at Sherwood, had his worst round at the Sherwood course, while two-time FedExCup champion Rory McIlroy carded a 73.
A year after ago in the same tournament, which was then held in Japan, Woods equalled Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA TOUR victories. But this time, Woods struggled at the Sherwood, which is familiar to him, having produced a bunch of titles from his own tournament, the HWC. He found only seven fairways and 10 greens in regulation and was 3-over on the par-5s.
Hideki Matsuyama, who is a five-time PGA TOUR winner and runner-up in the event last year, opened with a 70.
Young Matthew Wolff, who grew up close to Sherwood, and played with Woods in the first round, did not get awed by the legend, and shot 3-under 69. The third player in the group, Xander Schauffele rebounded from a late triple bogey during his 69.
Munoz, who was ninth at CJ Cup last week, eagled seventh and 16th, which he holed out from 168 yards and 51 yards respectively. Following a bogey start, Munoz bounced back with four birdies over his next five holes before holing 9-Iron approach shot at the par 4 seventh hole. A second eagle came courtesy of a deft pitch at the par 5 16th hole, where his second shot hit a tree and stay out of the penalty area.
Overall Munoz had a very eventful round with two eagles, eight birdies, two bogeys and a double.
Last fall, Munoz had his PGA TOUR victory and went on to finish a career high eighth on the FedExCup.
Justin Thomas battled to an even par front nine with two birdies against two bogeys before shooting 29 on the back nine. His finish in particular was spectacular with an eagle-birdie-birdie sequence.
Hatton, 29, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March and then the BMW PGA in Europe, has risen to No. 9 in world rankings and he lived up to that billing. He was also third at CJ Cup last week.
He said being able to go back home after eight and a half months in the US helped him. He also worked with his Dad, who is also his coach. He had eight birdies against one bogey, which ironically came on Par-5 16th.
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