DUBLIN, Ohio (AP)—Every time Tiger Woods hits a spectator with a ball, he tries to make it up to them by giving them an autographed golf glove.
(Amy Sancetta/AP Photo)
He was running low on gloves Sunday at the Memorial Tournament.
“No kidding, huh? I kept hitting everybody out there today,” Woods said with a wide grin. “Thank God I get them for free.”
On his first swing on the first hole, Woods pulled his drive left and drilled 37-year-old Jeramy May in the neck. “I’m just glad they were on the other side,” May said, pointing toward his daughter and a friend.
On the second hole, Woods hit 19-year-old Alan Flood in the back of his left leg as he was standing far left of the fairway. Then at the 15th hole, Jimmy Craig of suburban Columbus was in the right rough when Woods’ drive hit him in the thumb and then the side.
Woods apologized and shook his hand.
“It’s worth a glove,” Craig said, and Woods obliged.
It was that kind of day for the defending champion, who shot an even-par 72 to finish at 6 under, a dozen shots behind winner Justin Rose. Woods tied for 19th, his worst finish since 2002 at the Memorial, where he has won four times.
Yet he wasn’t disappointed. He expected some problems in his first competitive rounds after sitting out three weeks due to a neck injury. Also, he was playing his first tournament in years without a swing coach. He split with Hank Haney after The Players Championship, where Woods was unable to complete the fourth round because of the injury.
Asked what he discovered at Muirfield Village, Woods laughed.
