Doug Ferguson, AP
WEBB SIMPSON WAS nervous playing in the same group with Tiger Woods. It sure didn’t show on day one of the Wells Fargo Championship.
Simpson chipped in from 35 yards in front of the par-four eighth green for eagle, and then made Woods shake his head and smile when he holed a 60-foot birdie putt that might have rolled off the 12th green if the cup didn’t get in the way. It led to a seven-under 65 for a share of the lead Thursday with Stewart Cink and Ryan Moore.
World number two Rory McIlroy, back in action after three weekends off the course, finished an otherwise solid day with a bogey five on the final hole.
McIlroy, who earned his first PGA Tour win at Quail Hollow two years ago by closing with a 62, birdied three of the par fives and carded a two-under par 70 to finish five shots off the early pace.
“I was nervous playing with Tiger. I prayed a lot out there,” said Simpson, who lives about a mile away from the course and already was on edge about trying to perform well for the neighbors. “Once I made a couple birdies, I kind of enjoyed it.”
There was a lot to like for just about everyone on a steamy day in Carolina. With temperatures pushing 90 and barely a breeze, scoring conditions were so ideal that even par was over the cut line going into the second round. The average score was 71.72, the lowest for the first round in the 10-year history of the tournament.
Woods failed to take advantage. In his first tournament since a tie for 40th at the Masters — his worst performance as a pro at Augusta National — he made too many mistakes early and had to one-putt three of the last four greens for a 71.
“I’ve got to obviously not make those little mistakes like that tomorrow,” Woods said. “We’ve got a long way to go, and we’ve got some rain coming probably on the weekend, so we’re going to have to go get it.”
So many others did just that, including Cink, who has been mired in a slump. He ended an already solid day with three straight birdies, holing a 20-foot putt on the ninth for his lowest round of the year. Moore also birdied his last three holes.
Rickie Fowler, still searching for his first PGA Tour win in his third full season, led a group of five players at 66 that included Patrick Reed, the 21-year-old from Augusta State who has Monday qualified to get in the last two tournaments.
