Tiger opens strong at Bay Hill in key Masters tuneup

MIAMI, Florida: Tiger Woods’ rolled in six birdies, including a 71-footer at the seventh hole, to leap into contention Thursday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational led by Henrik Stenson.

Woods, the 14-time major champion and eight-time winner at Bay Hill, started early and showed the peak form that sparked his best finish in five years last week.“It was just getting a feel for playing tournament golf again and I think I have it,” said Woods, who is playing the fifth US PGA Tour event since returning in January from spinal fusion surgery last April.

“I’m not thinking as much around the golf course. I can just see it, feel it and go. That’s because I’ve got my ‘feels’ back.”Three weeks before the start of the Masters, the year’s first major tournament, Woods showed none of the back pain that sidelined him most of the past two seasons. He has undergone four back operations, doubting at one stage if he would ever return to competitive golf.

“I enjoy just playing again,” Woods said.Sweden’s Stenson made nine birdies against a lone bogey to open with a 64.American rookies Aaron Wise and Talor Gooch were tied for second on 65.

Jimmy Walker, the 2016 PGA Championship winner, holed out from 132 yards for an eagle on the 18th fairway to complete an opening 67 that left him tied with Rickie Fowler and Bryson DeChambeau, one stroke ahead of Woods.Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy was set to match Walker and Fowler but closed with a double-bogey to finish on 69.