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.
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.
"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.
