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Tiger Woods struggles in Dubai Desert Classic first round

By The Sports Xchange
Photo by Pete Marovich/UPI
Photo by Pete Marovich/UPI | License Photo

Tiger Woods failed to recover from a slow start out of the blocks at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, carding a 5-over-par 77 to reside 12 strokes behind first-round leader Sergio Garcia in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Woods, who is ahead of only three players, failed to record a birdie and three-putted for a bogey during his round at the European Tour event. The former World No. 1 likely will need at least a score of 67 during Friday's second round to avoid his second straight missed cut.

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Starting on the back nine, Woods bogeyed two of the first three holes as he continues to work his way past his issues from a surgically repaired back.

The 41-year-old Woods, who dismissed his health issues for the reason for his play on Thursday, was playing in his second official tournament following a 17-month layoff due to multiple back surgeries in 2015.

"I was just trying to hit shots and I wasn't doing a very good job," the 14-time major winner said. "At the end, I finally hit some good ones but the damage had already been done.

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"I could have hung in there. I could have shot something near even par if I would have made some putts but I made nothing."

Garcia was singing quite a different tune after carding a 7-under-par 65 to open a one-shot clubhouse lead over Chile's Felipe Aguilar and South African George Coetzee.

"It was a nice way to start, a good solid round," the Spaniard said.

Defending champion Danny Willett, who played alongside Woods and fellow Brit Matt Fitzpatrick, finished 1-under-par 71.

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