And here we go. After Thursday’s 74, it’s important to get off to a fast start Friday, especially with the wind dying down a bit. Woods hit driver off the first, playing downhill and downwind, and lost it in the trees right of the fairway. Not what he was looking for. Tiger got lucky with the lie in the right rough and took advantage. He hit a towering cut that landed in the middle of the green and stayed right there. Birdie look at the first. His 50-foot bid nearly went in, but it was good enough for an easy par.

Fridays with @TigerWoods 😍 pic.twitter.com/Nt9E7CiDsK

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 20, 2022

TIGER ON THE DAY: E thru 1

The second is challenging, especially with the wind coming from the left. Tiger pulled driver once again and found the right rough just like he did on the first. Not looking sharp with the big stick early on Friday. His approach came out soft from the rough and ended up in the left greenside bunker. Tiger thumped it from the sand nicely and it released onto the green into tap in range. He’ll take that.

TIGER ON THE DAY: E thru 2

It’s driver for the third straight hole and this one is perfect, right down the right-hand side of the fairway. He’s in business at the par 4. He played a cut 9-iron into the center of the green but didn’t look too happy with the result. Wanted to take advantage of his drive and didn’t pull it off. From 42 feet, Tiger’s birdie putt came up just short, but for the third straight hole, Woods made an easy par.

TIGER ON THE DAY: E thru 3

Instead of going with his patented stinger off the fourth, Tiger grabbed a 3-wood and played a beautiful, low cut against the wind and found the fairway. Go time at the short par 4. Another low 9-iron found the middle of the green but left him a long birdie putt. Tiger’s 25-foot bid missed on the high side and ran out three to four feet. He cleaned for par, however, and stayed at even for the day.

TIGER ON THE DAY: E thru 4

On the long par 5, Tiger pulled driver and played a gorgeous cut with the wind into the middle of the fairway. With 323 yards still into the green, Woods hit a layup down the left. From 108, he loved it. He flew his third just past the flag and spun it back to five feet. And he’s on the board. First birdie of the day for Woods as he gets to 1 under on the day.

https://twitter.com/PGAChampionship/status/1527742198283915265?s=20&t=Cm8Z5DsijzynNj9nJKbU2A

TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 under thru 5

Tiger’s tee shot into the par-3 landed on the front of the green and finished pin-high, just 20 feet left of the stick leaving him a makeable birdie putt. But unlike on the par 5, he couldn’t get it to go and settled for his fifth par of the day.

TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 under thru 6

With wind whipping from the right, Tiger played a nice fade up against the breeze and found another fairway. Finally looking comfortable with the driver. From 187, Woods pulled a 6-iron from the bag and miss-hit it slightly. His ball settled just short-right of the green. His chip nearly found the cup, but it was another easy par for Tiger.

TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 under thru 7

From 224 yards on the par-3, Tiger launched it over the green into a spot of bother for only the second time Friday. From there, it’ll be a grind for par. After taking a drop away from the grandstand, Tiger tried to play a high pitch shot but failed to get it back onto the green. From the fringe, he used his putter and almost canned it for par, but he’d settle for bogey. Back to even for the day.

TIGER ON THE DAY: E thru 8

Tiger’s driver off 9 didn’t cut enough and found the rough down the left, his first missed fairway since No. 2. His second from the trees was a beauty. A tight, low draw into the center of the green that spun left and finished 9 feet right of the flag. His putt was low the entire way and he had to settle for par.

Woods turned with an even-par 35.

TIGER ON THE DAY: E thru 9

Tiger’s 3-wood off the 10th tee was a perfect high cut that found the middle of the fairway. His approach into the green landed, bounced once pin high, and spun back to 10 feet below the stick. Another good look for a three.

Bang!

His second birdie of the day to get back to 1 under, 3 over for the tournament.

TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 under thru 10

His tee shot on the 11th was his worst swing of the day, a double-cross that flew the green and finished just before a hazard. He attempted a flop shot with his second but flew it too far and ended up in the front greenside bunker. His splash from the sand ran by the hole to an uncomfortable distance, and it will be a test for bogey. His bogey putt missed on the high side and he tapped in for double.

TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 over thru 11

Another driver and another fairway on 12. Woods needs to capitalize on this opportunity and bounce back from his double on 11. With just a wedge in hand, Tiger pulled it into a greenside bunker. After contact, he showed his first signs of discomfort with his leg, hobbling for a step or two after the shot. His bunker shot nearly caught the cup but rushed by leaving him a lengthy bid for par. But, he made it! He’s fighting, and he heads to the par-5 13th 1 over.

TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 over thru 12

Vibing from his monster par save on 12, Tiger pumped another drive and found the fairway at 13. After laying up, he once again looked uncomfortable with his leg, but his ball finished in the fairway. With a tree slightly in his way, Tiger played a big draw with a wedge and stuck it to 10 feet.

Another one.

Tiger drains the birdie bid and gets back to even par and inside the cut line.

Hear the roar. 🐅#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/98JXorp7Nb

— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 20, 2022

TIGER ON THE DAY: E thru 13

On the long par 3, Tiger’s tee shot barely missed the green and settled on the right fringe. He played a low chip shot that checked too quickly and finished 14 feet short of the flag. Not a great effort. But, he’s fighting! Drained the par putt to stay inside the cut.

TIGER ON THE DAY: E thru 14

First stinger of the day and it’s perfect, just down the left side. A big mistake with the approach as Tiger flew the green and finished in the back bunker. Tough up and down coming up. His bunker shot, however, was majestic, ending up just a few feet from the hole. He continues to fight. Another great par.

TIGER ON THE DAY: E thru 15

The driver is officially in rhythm, as Tiger finds another fairway at 16. His approach from 209 yards was pin seeking from the moment it left his clubface and finished a few feet from the hole. He cleaned up for birdie, and more importantly, heads to the last two holes with some breathing room.

TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 under thru 16

Stinger time yet again, and this one, too, is perfect down the right. Another iron shot tugged to the left and his approach settled back-left of the green. His chip was pretty tidy, but he still had to make a four-foot putt for his par. Which he drained. He continues to fight!

TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 under thru 17

His tee shot down 18 was glorious, a low, stinging 3-wood that found the middle of the fairway. From over 200 yards, Woods hit a solid 5-iron to the center of the green to all but lock up a weekend tee time. He lagged it to perfection and made his easy par.

See ya on the weekend, cat.

TIGER ON THE DAY: 1 under thru 18