By Doug Ferguson
Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. ó In their own way, Jason Gore and Tiger Woods changed their fortunes Thursday at Bay Hill.
Gore was not seeing any results from an overhaul to his swing until he ran off three birdies over the final four holes for a 5-under 65 that gave him a one-shot lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Woods was in the water, in the trees and in a foul mood until he had eight consecutive one-putts ó including four straight birdies ó that put him in a good frame of mind with a 68 on a course where he has won five times as a pro.
“I was not hitting it well, and I had to scramble and grind it out and manage to score,” Woods said. He managed just fine, taking only 24 putts in the first round after ranking 74th in putting out of 79 players at Doral two weeks ago.
Tim Herron, who won Bay Hill in a playoff 10 years ago, and Jeff Overton had a 66, while the group at 67 included the ever-present Nick Watney and Mark Wilson, who had reason to feel outclassed on the first tee but more than held his own.
Wilson was in the same group as Woods and Padraig Harrington, who have won five of the last six majors. Wilson has his own history with Woods, having lost a late lead in 1992 when Woods rallied to win his second U.S. Junior Amateur.
But Wilson had the best day of the threesome. Harrington saved par from the water on the 18th for a 70.
“Scored best of the tree,” Wilson said, a slight distinction. “I had a good time out there. I love playing with Tiger. The electricity and the energy on that first tee is something else with him.”
Imagine the surge on the opening hole, when Woods had a difficult flop shot from about 30 yards that had to carry a bunker. Wilson wondered if Woods might begin his title defense at Bay Hill with a double bogey. Then he watched Woods’ shot pitch about 6 feet from the hole and roll like a putt into the cup for birdie.
Woods hit a tee shot into the water at No. 6 for double bogey, was lucky to escape with pars at the turn and made four birdies on the back nine to get off to a good start.
The only other player at Bay Hill with such charisma is Palmer, the tournament host.
Gore can attest to that.
He was 11 when his family went to Pittsburgh one summer and Gore had his mother drive him to Latrobe Country Club. They walked into the pro shop and asked if the King was around, and before long Palmer drove up in a cart that looked like a tractor.
“He took a picture with us, signed a scorecard and he said, ‘Son, I’m going to go hit balls. Would like to come watch?”‘ Gore said. “I sat right on the little slope right behind the first tee and watched Mr. Palmer hit balls for about 45 minutes. And from that point on, I knew I wanted to be a professional golfer.”
“He’s got that power, and that’s what makes him the King. And that’s why he’s the greatest person to this game.”
Woods is the greatest player of his generation, slowly building his way back into shape with the Masters around the corner. This is his third tournament since an eight-month layoff from knee surgery.
He hit the ball well at Doral and couldn’t make a putt. On Thursday, it was a good thing he could make a few putts. Woods showed flashes of his notorious temper that had been missing the last two events.
“I didn’t have it because I was hitting it so well,” he said. “Today, I was not hitting it well.”