Dubai Desert Classic Round One
Tiger Woods had a black shirt with white strips. Rory McIlroy had one too. A few other players had the same apparel theme going. They must have coordinated that in advance.
McIlroy Leads – Woods six back
Tiger however, didn’t get the memo from Rory on what score to shoot in round one. Rory Shot a 65 (-7) to take the lead, and Tiger had to make an impressive eagle on the final hole to shot a 71 (-1).
I’m trying to see what is different in Tiger’s swing and the most noticeable thing I’m seeing, is that his head is looking up at the shot sooner than before. It isn’t quite a David Duval or Annika Sorenstam look, but it is going up quickly.
Tiger looked up very quickly on I believe the 16th hole. Photographers perched about 20 feet above the tee were clicking away in his back swing. Tiger let go of his club with one hand and yelled up at them, “come on guys, not in my swing.” Interestingly enough, his tee shot hit the middle of the fairway.
#1 and #2
World #1 and #2 Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer both shot 69 (-3) in round one.
No fun Tweets from Westwood yet
Westwood’s twitter is quiet, except for a note that he’s going to some kind of race. Looks like a horse race. Pouler hasn’t razzed Tiger yet today either, just solicitations to buy his apparel.
Looks like Tiger is finally starting to play like we expect. I’ll have to look closer for the new head move – maybe less dipping than he’s been doing. Hopefully he can maintain it as we look to the Masters in few weeks. I went last year and got video of Tiger and Freddie in Mon practice rounds – hope to do so again this year.
It seems like once TW shot one good round everyone thought he was back. But he didn’t put together four good rounds and hasn’t yet this season. 75 in the final round when he was one shot off the lead isn’t exactly the Tiger of old. He’s not back yet.