belfasttelegraph

Friday 24 May 2013

Arnold Palmer Invitational: Tiger Woods glad to be in hunt

Tiger Woods hits a shot from the 16th tee during the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill, Thursday, March 22, 2012, in Orlando, Florida

Tiger Woods enjoyed himself in the Florida sunshine yesterday. With a three-under-par 69, the former world No 1 was three off the clubhouse lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill.





Woods, in his last event before the Masters in two weeks, is a six-time winner of the Bay Hill title. With his only dropped shot coming at the three-putted short 17th (his eighth), Woods will draw much confidence from a round that was four strokes better than Phil Mickelson's.



England's Justin Rose, winner of the recent WGC event in Miami, also had a 69 and Ernie Els – hoping to rejoin the world's top 50 and qualify for Augusta via a top-three finish – shot 71, six behind pacesetter Charlie Wi.