Tiger Woods Shoots 2-Under 69 at the Genesis Invitational

Tiger Woods is making his first competitive appearance in nearly a year at the Genesis Invitational. After shooting an opening round score of 2-under 69, he is tied for 26th place, five shots behind co-leaders Max Homa and Keith Mitchell.

Woods had several missed tee shots, but made two good birdie attempts on the 10th and 11th holes.

1. First tee shot

Woods began his Genesis Invitational round Thursday with a good tee shot on the opening hole. As the fairway and greens played fast, he was one of few players to avoid making bogey as the first round progressed.

He then hit an exquisite pitch from a difficult angle to set up his birdie putt. Although he missed by only a few feet, fans were still singing his name and giving him a fist pump when he made the putt - prompting an enthusiastic response from those in attendance.

Two-time major champion Phil Mickelson had an excellent round at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, finishing tied for 26th. He is one of the leaders heading into the weekend alongside Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas.

2. Second tee shot

Tiger Woods birdied the final three holes to shoot 2-under 69 on Thursday and sits five shots behind co-leaders Max Homa and Keith Mitchell. After seven months out due to an injury that ended his season and string of victories, Woods is back in competitive action for the 15th time.

He hit an impressive tee shot on the first hole, traveling 325 yards to find the cart path and leaving himself with an easy 138 yard par putt. For his second shot, he displayed excellent short game skills by rolling it out to 22 inches.

3. Third tee shot

Tiger Woods shot an opening-round 1-under par, leaving him two strokes behind leader Robert Garrigus. To remain in contention for the title on Sunday, Woods will need another low round.

On the third tee, he hit an approach shot that saved par and ignited the crowd with excitement. It marked his first competitive golf in over 10 months and it proved to be a successful start.

Woods then made a double bogey on the 11th, but quickly recovered with birdies on both subsequent holes to finish 3-under and four strokes behind the leader. He remains one shot outside the cut line with seven more holes remaining.

4. Fourth tee shot

Tiger Woods is back on the PGA Tour for the first time since last season's Open Championship. He started off with a 2-under 69 on Thursday at Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles.

The 82-time winner got off to a good start, making three birdies on his opening five holes. Although he missed his tee shot on the third, he managed to save par with two putts to move to 1 under par.

On the fifth hole, he made a miscue by hitting into a bunker but converted a 5 foot bogey putt to stay at 1 under. Subsequently, he made three consecutive birdies for an even round of 2-under 69.

5. Fifth tee shot

Tiger Woods shot a 2-under 69 in his first competitive golf game since July, finishing with three consecutive birdies and a big smile. The 15-time major champion was playing alongside Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon.

He started off with an impressive drive, hitting the flag from 316 yards. It soared over the rough and sloped just short of the green, giving him a great chance for birdie.

Tiger hit it right on the green with some energy in his step, giving himself another great look at birdie. His confidence is back and he's gradually getting into the swing of things during this round.

6. Sixth tee shot

Tiger Woods is back to competitive golf after seven months away, and he's off to a good start at the Genesis Invitational. After shooting 2-under 69 to take a share of the lead with Gary Woodland, Woods now sits one stroke back.

He began the back nine with a bogey at the par-3 fourth, but quickly erased it with an impressive approach shot on the par-4 eighth that found its mark three feet from the pin.

On the sixth, his tee shot went into the bunker and left him with a difficult putt. This proved to be an unlucky moment, but he bounced back nicely to make birdie on his only front-nine hole - number seven.

7. Seventh tee shot

Tiger Woods made an exciting return to competitive golf at The Genesis Invitational, posting a 2-under 69 on day one. After missing seven months due to a life-threatening car crash last summer, Woods is back playing golf for the first time in seven months.

The 15-time major champion hit some powerful drives with ball speeds above average, but found the putting surface more challenging throughout the round. He struggled to make putts from close range and even gave back a stroke on the par-five eighth hole.

On the 17th hole, his tee shot struck an errant tree and left him scrambling. Ultimately, he hit an approach shot that found the front of the green and holed a lag putt for par to stay at 2-under par.

8. Eighth tee shot

Tiger Woods shot a 2-under 69 on Thursday to take the lead at the Genesis Invitational. He's now three shots clear of the field at 13 under for the tournament.

On the eighth tee, Woods hit driver to 322 yards. It faded perfectly down the center of the fairway, leaving him with a short iron to the green.

Unfortunately, his first shot had gone just right and into a bunker. On his second attempt to the green, he hit it accurately enough for a putt from first cut of turf that putted up close for an impressive bogey.

Woods had a good start to his round, but it didn't last. Woods' body language indicated that he was beginning to experience some discomfort from his ankle injury.

9. Nineth tee shot

On Thursday, Woods shot a 2-under 69 and it appeared that he may be back to his old self. After taking a brief break since his injury, the 82-time winner on Tour is back playing in an official PGA Tour non-major event.

Tiger hit a 9-iron that faded right and landed in front of the pin for an impressive birdie putt - giving him just what he needed to get going again. That putt proved to be just what the doctor ordered as Tiger found his mojo back.

He still had a good chance at making it a bogey-free round until his wedge on the par-5 ninth rode the shifting wind to the right and into the gallery, leaving him with an unfinished chip that hit the flag but went six feet beyond it.

10. Tenth tee shot

Tiger Woods shot a 2-under 69 on Friday to tie for the lead at the Masters, playing alongside Joaquin Niemann.

Woods had trouble making putts throughout his round, with a particularly bad stretch on the back nine.

On the sixth hole, Woods found himself facing a bunker that split the middle of the green from 70 feet away. Unfortunately, his tee shot failed to land and he made an unlucky bogey.

Even after a strenuous start to the day, Woods still managed to give his first animated fist pump of the tournament. He had made birdies on holes eight, 10 and 14, yet failed to find the green with his approach shots.