TIGER WOODS’ HOPES of a fairytale return faded on Saturday after an error-strewn round saw him tumble down the leaderboard at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
After solid displays on his opening two rounds had left him at seven under par for the tournament, the former world number one suffered a torrid third round with a three-over-par 75.
It left the 14-time major winner at four under, several shots off the leading group who were still on the course at the par-72 Albany Golf Club.
Woods, who is playing for the first time since February, was in trouble from the opening hole, hitting his tee shot at the first into the sand bordering the fairway.
His second shot hit a rock hidden in the sand, leaving him with a difficult up and down to save par.
He reached the green in three but missed the putt to make bogey.
A further bogey followed on the third when an attempted chip onto the green struck the bank and rolled back.
Two more bogeys on the sixth and seventh put him four over for the day as his challenge threatened to unravel, and a further bogey on the 10th further deepened the gloom.
But Woods kept battling away and finally started getting some joy from his putting, to finish with two birdies on the 14th and 17th holes to claw back two shots.
A further birdie putt on the 18th rolled agonisingly wide.
Woods return this week in the 18-man tournament which benefits his charity is his first event since back surgery in April.
The golf superstar has made only a handful of appearances in the past two years after back problems forced him to miss the entire 2015-2016 season.
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One of the greatest managers the game has ever seen.
@Aidan Farrell: The greatest team the game has ever seen…..Imo.
@Ray Ridge: it’s impossible to compare teams of different eras
@Aidan Farrell: it’s a stated fact that he does not know the names of half of the backroom team that’s employed by JP.
@Mikey Walsh: my goodness Mikey, give it a rest boi, how bitter are you about this, chirping away all day, chipping away, you must be sickened.
@Michael Kennedy: your raving BOY
53 backroom staff??ffs I bet pep doesn’t even have half of that with city.madness..limerick are great to watch a different animal and when they get to croke Park cannot see them been stopped..
@Paully kells: always enjoy your input Paul, why madness? Most of them are voluntary.
Paul Kinnerk is the brains
@liam hehir: ya but Paul Kinnerk has openly stated that he could not do the job that John Kiely does so it appears they are a formidable management team who compliment each other’s strengths and weaknesses perfectly
Were Clare too conservative? It appeared that when they continuously drove the ball long that it was a 3 V 1 in the full forward line or a 4 v 2 always in Limericks favour. You have to carry the ball through the lines of that’s the case. Maybe Clare don’t have the pace to do that and if that’s the case I can see them struggling with a Cork or Kilkenny in future
@anthony davoren: definitely the difference today was Limerick nearly always chose the right pass or shot, where as Clare nearly always chose the wrong option..in fairness when Clare did choose the correct option they looked really good.. Limerick are the standard bearer’s.
@Matthew Delaney: well said..clare have theirselves to blame with a few clumsy mistakes they are a very good team no doubt but make them mistakes against a machine like limerick expect to be punished..very unlucky to hit the post near the end would been two points in it then and god knows then what could happening?the banner will be still there or there abouts..
@Paully kells: I’d also say that a factor today was the two goalkeepers..puck outs cost Clare, not all quilligans fault.
@Matthew Delaney: definitely Matthew…quaid nearly always finds he’s man..quilligans puck outs were very good unfortunately for the banner limerick were out in front to get get to frw them first..clare will be back lohan will have them fired up for the next day no doubt about it..