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Some might suppose there was the next energy at work when Tiger Woods strode down the first hole at Riviera Nation Membership in Los Angeles Thursday.
Close to the place basketball good Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash remaining month, Woods fizzed his second shot into the inexperienced to go away an eagle putt of 24 ft eight inches.
Remarkably, these are the two jersey numbers worn by Bryant all through his glittering 20-year career with the LA Lakers.
In reality, Woods made the putt.
“It’s ironic, isn’t it?” Woods suggested the Golf Channel afterwards. “I didn’t know regarding the putt being that prolonged.”
In a scorching start, the earlier world No.1 moreover birdied the fifth and the par-four eighth hole, the place the flag and signage have been inside the yellow and purple livery of the Lakers.
It is usually the place Woods mimicked a basketball shot as he tossed his ball once more to caddie Joe LaCava.
Quite a few completely different avid gamers moreover paid tribute to Bryant by means of the first spherical of the Genesis Invitational.
World No.1 Rory McIlroy sported a set of Lakers headcovers on his woods with the numbers 24 and eight and the phrases “Mamba mentality” in a nod to Bryant’s nickname “Black Mamba.”
Brooks Koepka, who McIlroy overtook on the high of the standings, moreover had Lakers headcovers, whereas Justin Thomas wore a pair of custom-made golf footwear in Lakers colors bearing Bryant’s image.
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“It would not matter what we do, I really feel for a while we’ll on a regular basis keep in mind Kobe and what he meant, notably proper right here in Socal and all of the sports activities world,” Woods added.
Woods is chasing a file 83rd PGA Tour win to surpass the mark he shares with countryman Sam Snead.
His birdie on the eighth took him to 4 underneath as he went out in 31, nevertheless the 44-year-old was wayward off the tee on the once more 9 and got here dwelling in 38 to complete with a two-under 69 to path chief Matt Kuchar by 5 images.
Woods made his PGA Tour debut at Riviera as a 16-year-old novice in 1992 nevertheless has by no means gained on the Pacific Palisades venue.
He is constructing as a lot as a safety of his Masters title and a doable 16th principal title at Augusta from April 9-12
