Tiger's Last Stand: Woods Shoots 6-Under 64 In First Round Of Wyndham Championship
GREENSBORO, N.C. (CBSNewYork) -- Tiger Woods needs a miracle to make it into the FedExCup Playoffs. On Thursday, he began his improbable journey in style.
Woods opened the Wyndham Championship, a tournament he had never played before, with a 6-under 64, and was just two shots off the lead.
"It was finally nice to get something out of a round," Woods said.
It was Woods' lowest score on the PGA Tour since his 61 in the second round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in 2013, the last time he won on tour.
Taking advantage of the soft conditions at Sedgefield Country Club due to earlier rain, Woods attacked pins, recording seven birdies and just one bogey.
"It's a tricky little golf course," Woods said. "I couldn't imagine playing this golf course fast. The greens are fast enough as it is. I can't imagine them being hard and baked out. This golf course can get really, really tricky.
"When it's like this," Woods added, "you've got to throw darts and go low."
The fans erupted every time Woods pulled off a solid shot, reminiscent of moments throughout his legendary career.
"It was electric, especially early." Woods said with a big smile. "Overall, the people have been fantastic. They've been so nice and supportive."
After signing for a 64, Tiger signed an autograph for Hideki Matsuyama's caddie. https://t.co/PTJAc4W2Ad
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 20, 2015
The 14-time major winner, who last week missed the cut at the PGA Championship, entered this tournament 187th in the FedExCup rankings and likely needs at a minimum a second-place solo finish this week to qualify for the playoffs, which start next week at The Barclays at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, New Jersey.
"I know it's crazy to say, but I wasn't playing that poorly at PGA," Woods said. "Any borderline shot (at Whistling Straits) I never got away with it, and that's the way it goes. I felt like I was hitting the ball good enough and just kept progressing, and today was just a continuation of it."
Woods, a former world No. 1 who has dropped all the way to 286th, has missed the cut in seven of his last 17 events over the last two seasons.