After a three week break following his return to the Masters, Tiger Woods was back on the course Thursday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Championship.
The 14-time major champion shot even par in a round that should've looked much better on the scorecard. Tiger hit 13 greens in regulation, but managed just three birdies.
Woods last played in the Wells Fargo Championship in 2012. He has played the tournament six times, winning in 2007. He has missed the cut in his last two appearances – in 2010 and 2012.
Woods tees off at 7:40 a.m. ET on the back-nine first alongside Brooks Koepka and Masters champ Patrick Reed. Follow along as we track his performance hole-by-hole throughout the day:
Final thoughts
Despite an incredibly clutch putt on his final hole, Tiger just didn't have it all going for him today. His irons were great, his shots off the tee were accurate, but he just couldn't find any sort of rhythm on the greens. Expectations are high for Tiger, as they should be. He's played well this season, but it's not unusual for a player to struggle here and there. If half of the birdie putts he missed had fallen over the last two days, he'd be in contention, if not in the lead.
Hole 9 - Par 4
Another great drive from Tiger finds the fairway. He needs to stick his approach shot close. The course appears to be playing a bit more difficult today, so the cut line could move. Regardless, a birdie here for Tiger is insurance he definitely needs. His approach lands safely near the hole, setting up for a look at birdie. One of the game's most-clutch putters finally found his stroke when he needed it most. A birdie on No. 9, his final hole of the day, drops his overall score to 2-over for the tournament, right on the projected cut line.
Hole 8 - Par 4
It's go time for Tiger, and he knows that by the look of his drive. He smoked one right down the middle of the fairway, but once again failed to take advantage of a great drive. His pitch checked up, leaving a lengthy putt with a ridge to go over. He needed to stick it close for a real shot at birdie, that one's going to hurt. His two-putt par keeps him at 3-over, still outside the current projected cut.
Leaderboard update: Sam Burns is 4-under on the day through 12 holes, leading the pack at 6-under.
Hole 7 - Par 5
Tiger's drive finds the fairway bunker to the left, and with the pin tucked away alongside the water, he decides to lay up in the fairway. His approach to the green was vintage Tiger: a perfect landing on the green with spin that brings the ball within range for a much-needed birdie once again. The putt skates right by the cup, leaving another birdie opportunity behind. Par. 3-over. Two to play.
Hole 6 - Par 3
Tiger hits a beautiful shot off the tee, landing above the cup with another look for birdie. He really needs this one to fall to be safe of the cut line. Oh no. His birdie putt just lagged by the hole and his par putt misses as well. That's just an awful bogey to drop to 3-over par, outside the current projected cut line.
Hole 5 - Par 4
Another 3-wood off the tee on No. 5 for Tiger, and just like yesterday, he finds the fairway. He found the green with his approach shot and took a long look at the line for his birdie putt. He had a little over 30-feet, but left it a couple inches short. That could have been a huge momentum swing down the stretch. Still 2-over through 14.
Hole 4 - Par 3
Well, this could've been better. Tiger's tee shot ends up about 40 feet right and long. He's staring down a putt that has to travel over a ridge, which won't be easy seeing as he's struggled with speed all day. Tiger had the right speed coming down the hill, leaving a tap-in putt for par. Do we need to say it again? 2-over through 13.
Leaderboard update: Sam Burns is 3-under on the day, 5-under for the tournament and currently sits atop the leaderboard. Johnson Wagner, Peter Malnati and Tyrrell Hatton are T2 at 4-under.
Hole 3 - Par 4
The frustration may be setting in. Tiger ripped a drive that went left into the gallery off the tee. Tiger's recovery shot comes up just short of the green. He's got a good chance to get up-and-down for par. His chip checks up near the cup, maybe a bit further than he would have liked, but he nails the par putt. 2-over through 12.
Hole 2 - Par 4
Stinger! Tiger's 2-iron off the tee finds the middle of the fairway. He followed his beautiful drive with a yanked approach. His putt from off the green comes up just short for another, leaving another par. 2-over through 11.
Hole 1 - Par 4
Tiger's drive missed to the right, but he's in the first cut. His approach goes long to the rough over the green, leaving a sketchy up-and-down for par. His chip nestles up next to the cup and he converted the par to stay at 2-over through 10.
Thoughts at the turn
Here we go again. Tiger's playing better than his score, but just like his front-nine yesterday, he's left a handful of birdies on the course. Tiger's hit 7-of-9 greens in regulation and he's 4-7 hitting fairways, but he has 18 putts through nine holes. His iron play has been phenomenal, but he's missing putts that he should make. If the putts inside 10-feet don't start falling, he could be heading home early. The current projected cut line is 2-over par, which is where Tiger finds himself on the leaderboard.
Hole 18 - Par 4
Tiger cranked a 3-wood off the tee right down the middle of the fairway, but the story of his round so far has been his inability to take advantage of great drives. His approach was just about perfect, nestling 8-feet from the hole for another great birdie look. He misses left for another tap-in par and missed opportunity. He'll make the turn to the front-nine 2-over.
Leaderboard update: John Peterson is the lone leader at 5-under par, followed by Peter Malnati and Tyrrell Hatton at 4-under.
Hole 17 - Par 3
Not a great shot off the tee, but his miss was safe from the water. His chip is quite useful, setting up a tap-in par. Still 2-over through eight.
Hole 16 - Par 4
Known as "The Green Mile" due to the difficulty and length, Quail Hollow's final three holes on the back-nine are quite the test. Tiger's played No. 16 3-over in 21 career rounds, and even though his drive caught the left rough, he's got a decent look at the green. His approach landed a ways from the cup, setting up a two-putt par. Still 2-over through seven.
Hole 15 - Par 5
Tiger desperately needs a birdie here to get on track. He's failed to take advantage of the par 5's, but by the looks of his club twirl on No. 15, he's happy with is drive: perfectly down the middle of the fairway. His approach shot finds the green-side bunker, but he's got plenty of green to work with and his game out of the sand has been strong this season. Not a great effort here, though. It's still a birdie chance, but he's got a lot of green to cover. Two-putt par, once again. 2-over through six. On to "The Green Mile."
While Tiger and Brooks Koepka struggled to convert, Patrick Reed was chipping in for eagle:
Hole 14 - Par 4
Tiger goes 3-wood again on No. 14 today, and the result off the tee is the same: bunker. He had a tough out, leaving for a lengthy birdie putt. Tiger gave it a ride but it missed low and left. His par putt misses about an inch left. Bogey it is. 2-over through five.
You'd think a group full of major winners would have a bit more excitement, but it's been a pretty dull showing thus far.
Hole 13 - Par 3
Tiger's feeling it with his irons. He went right for the flag and has another great look at birdie. These putts have to start falling some time! Just not this time. He misses by a few inches and taps in for another disappointing par. 1-over through four.
Hole 12 - Par 4
Just like yesterday, Tiger rips a stinger right down the middle of the fairway. His approach shot is b-e-a-utiful as well, leaving for a good look at birdie to get back on track. The putt never had a chance, Tiger left it short, and just like yesterday, he leaves a great birdie chance on the table with a two-putt par. 1-over through three.
Leaderboard update: John Petersoon took the lead late on Thursday, shooting a 6-under 65. Keith Mitchell sits in second at 5-under, followed by Johnson Wagner, Peter Malnati and Tyrrell Hatton T3 at 4-under.
Hole 11 - Par 4
Tiger pured a 3-wood right down the fairway. Great tee shot after a disappointing opening hole. His approach shot was beautifully spun back, until it caught a slope near the front of the green. The ball trickled down, leaving a difficult look to get up-and-down. His chip comes up short, leaving a save for par. The frustration is showing early as the par putt misses, leaving a tap-in bogey. A wasted drive leads Tiger to 1-over through two.
Hole 10 - Par 5
Starting off on a par-5 with a chance a birdie could be a great jolt for Tiger's round. His drive off the tee leaked into the rough, setting up for a second shot at the green that found its way into the green-side bunker. His out wasn't great, but set up a look at birdie. The putt missed low and right, setting up a par that should've been a birdie to start the round. Even after one.