US Open week arrived at Torrey Pines in San Diego on Monday, when Tiger Woods had to share the city-owned course with fellow competitors and a gallery that grew at every hole.
If anyone didn't realize that Woods had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee two days after the Masters, they wouldn't have known by the way he played the South Course's front nine in a practice round.
"He didn't say 'Ow' to me, so it must be good," cracked Bubba Watson, who played with Woods and amateur Jordan Cox from Stanford.
The threesome teed off at about 7am under an overcast sky and with no wind coming off the Pacific Ocean. Woods pulled out after nine holes, spent some time on the putting green and then walked toward the Lodge at Torrey Pines at about 10:15am, accompanied by two policemen, caddie Steve Williams and swing coach Hank Haney.
Woods didn't speak to reporters.
"He looked good," Haney said. "He'll be OK. No problems so far."
On Wednesday, Woods played his first round of golf since knee surgery, getting in 17-plus holes riding in a cart. He played in solitude that day amid tight security, with no media or spectators allowed on the course. He stopped only when he saw a small group of people with cameras waiting around the 18th green.
On Monday, Woods scrambled in and out of bunkers and crushed some drives. He didn't appear to favor his knee.
"I don't think the surgery affected him at all," Cox said. "He's hitting it really, really well right now."
Most of all, he looked fit.
"He's got a whole career to worry about," Watson said. "I don't think he's going to mess it up. That's what he did, he pulled out of Memorial because he felt he wasn't ready, and if he wasn't ready here, he wouldn't show up, no matter what the course was, no matter what the crowd wants, no matter what the media wants. He's not going to end his career on some stupidity."
Woods has been dominating at Torrey Pines dating to his days playing in the Junior World Golf Championships. He's won the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines six times, including four straight.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily June 11, 2008)
