Woods makes mediocre return to FedEx Cup playoffs

PRAMUS, New Jersey: Tiger Woods made his FedExCup playoffs return on Thursday after a five-year absence and shot a mediocre level-par 71 in the first round of The Northern Trust to sit five shots behind the leaders in Paramus, New Jersey.

Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson carded 67s to lurk a shot off leaders Jamie Lovemark, Vaughn Taylor, Sean O’Hair and Kevin Tway on a day of fairly low scoring on the rain-soaked layout, where players were allowed preferred lies.

Justin Thomas, who won last year’s $10 million bonus as the FedExCup champion, carded a two-under 69.Former world number one Woods, in his first start since a runner-up finish behind Koepka at the PGA Championship this month, mixed two birdies with two bogeys at Ridgewood Country Club as he continued a trend of so-so starts.

Woods, who has broken 70 in the opening round only twice in 15 events in 2018, said less-than-ideal yardages were to blame for his lack of precision with his approach shots.

“I kept having the half-club,” said the 14-times major champion.“I just wasn’t quite hitting it close. I just didn’t quite have the feel to hit those really soft shots.”Koepka was rewarded for his typically aggressive approach off the tee.

Starting on the back nine, the highlight of his round was an eagle at the par-five 17th.“I like being able to hit driver on most holes and if you put it in position you can have some wedges in here and take advantage of your length,” he said.

At the 17th hole, Koepka picked up five strokes on playing companion Johnson, who ran up a triple bogey after a wild hook off the tee. Johnson fought back and almost had a hole in one at the par-three sixth where his ball lipped out of the hole.Joint leader Lovemark could hardly have wished for a better start with birdies at the first three holes.