Tiger posts first sub-70 round since ’15

Tiger Woods tapped in on the 18th hole Saturday for his first birdie on a par-5 this week to card a 1-under round of 69 during the third round of the Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

It was Woods’ first sub-70 round in more than 900 days in an official PGA Tour event, dating back to 2015. He is even par for the tournament, and was seven shots off the lead when he finished his round.

“That’s a long time, isn’t it? Geez, that’s a long time,” Woods told CBS Sports shortly after his round when informed of how long it had been since he had posted a round in the 60s. “Today, even though I shot 69, it was probably the highest score I could have shot today. I really hit it good.”

Driving the ball more consistently than he has thus far this year, Woods hit nine of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens. He has the closest proximity to the hole on approach shots in the field this week, but needed 29 putts as he narrowly missed numerous good birdie looks.

“For some reason, the sight lines fit me here,” Woods said. “I feel very comfortable here, and I’m used to playing in this wind. That’s the way it is every day here. The hard part has been trying to get the ball in the hole. ”

Woods opened with seven consecutive pars before a birdie on the par-4 eighth hole. He got to 2-under for the round with a birdie on No. 13 and was only four shots off the lead when he reached the infamous “Bear Trap.”

Woods pulled his tee shots left on two par-3s – the 15th and 17th holes – and was unable to get up and down for par. He dropped back to 1-over entering the final hole. Woods made a bold decision to go for the green in two from a bunker left of the 18th fairway. He put his approach left of the green and nearly chipped in for eagle.

“At least I’ve put myself there where I’ve got a shot tomorrow,” Woods said. “I’m going to have to shoot something under par, for sure. You just never know what can happen the final few holes here. A lot of things can happen, they have happened in the past.

But first of all I need to go out and post a number. I’m going to be far enough ahead of the leaders… you just never know. Wait and see what happens.”