Woods: Round 1 greens were slower than expected

Tiger Woods
ATLANTA – Although Tiger Woods declined interviews after his opening-round 73 at the Tour Championship, on Friday he said his 34-putt total on Day 1 had more to do with the speed of East Lake’s greens than his stroke.

“I missed everything on the high side. The greens were much slower than what I thought they would be, and I missed every putt on the high side, except for the putt at the first hole,” said Woods, who took 28 putts on Day 2 on his way to a 1-over 71.

“Today they were quicker starting out, and I took that into account and tried to make sure they got on the lower lines. I didn't give as much credit to the green as I did yesterday, and it ended up working.”

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Thursday was also just his seventh round as a professional where he failed to convert a birdie putt, which he remedied at the third when he made a 10-footer on Friday.

“It was finally nice to make a birdie in, what was that, 21 holes?” Woods smiled.