Tiger Woods’ return to golf during the 2024 season didn’t go to plan in his first start at Riviera Country Club last week. During the second round of the Genesis Invitational, the 15-time major champion was forced to withdraw due to what he later identified as influenza.

Prior to his withdrawal, Woods was +2 and flirting with the cut line. He was hitting the ball well off the tee and on approach but was a bit sloppy around and on the greens, most likely due to competitive rust.

While speaking with Sky Sports, Laura Davies gave her opinion on Tiger’s return, viewing it from an optimistic lens.

“I actually think, if he had been fit, he’d have probably made the cut; the cut was one-over at the time, and he was two-over when he had to withdraw,”

“The way we saw him driving it on Thursday, he was scrappy, he dropped five shots – very un-Tiger-like – and he’d already dropped a couple [on Friday]. If he can drive it like that all the time, we know his irons will come around.

“They have been a little bit loose. Putting’s been great; he’s still holing those very important five, 10-footers. A lot of them were for pars yesterday and he made them.”

Davies added that she thinks Tiger can win again this year.

“The way we saw him driving it on Thursday, he was scrappy, he dropped five shots – very un-Tiger-like – and he’d already dropped a couple [on Friday]. If he can drive it like that all the time, we know his irons will come around.”

“They have been a little bit loose. Putting’s been great; he’s still holing those very important five, 10-footers. A lot of them were for pars yesterday and he made them.”

“I think, if he is going to be fit – and it looked like the signs for that are good with his body – then I think we’ve got lots to look forward to. Without a doubt he will win this year – if he stays fit.”

Whether Woods “stays fit” or not is highly questionable given what we’ve seen from him since 2022.

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A new putter from the Kirkland Signature Series has been spotted.

• Related: Spotted: New Kirkland driver hits USGA conforming list

After making headlines by creating a line of drivers and irons to be sold at Costco, Kirkland has seemingly jumped into the putter game as well. As shared by “theequipmentjunkie” on Instagram, the putter is a mallet style.

 

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A post shared by The Equipment Junkie (@theequipmentjunkie)

Costco is currently being sued by TaylorMade for the Kirkland Signature irons and claims “the iron’s design infringes on several patents tied to the company’s popular P790 iron that has a similar hollow-cavity design.” TaylorMade is also claims the product makes “false and misleading statements in violation.”

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Twenty-two-time champion Rafael Nadal is known for being one of the best ever tennis players, but recently Nadal also became a champion on the golf course.

• See what our members are saying about Rafa’s victory in our forums here.

You’re not dreaming. Rafa is a champion again ! Not in tennis (already) but in Golf ??

?: fbaleargolf via Instagram pic.twitter.com/yOgvDx9CaZ

— rafael_nadal_by_hippo (@rnbyhippo22) February 18, 2024

While Balearic Mid-Amateur Golf Championship, Nadal not only won the event, but was able to win by a comfortable seven strokes.

Rafa has won the tourney by 7 strokes!!!!! There were 75 entrants who competed both days. It was played at Santa Ponsa 1, a par 72 course. (Difficulty rating of 74.7 & slope of 133). Rafa was 3 over for the tourney. 2nd place was 10 over.

— JB (@[email protected]) (@Minerva2BC) February 18, 2024

Next, Nadal will focus on training for the Indian Wells tournament after missing some time from tennis due to injury.

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