PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The noise echoed off the hospitality suites as Tiger Woods emerged from a tunnel and onto the 17th tee at PGA National late Friday afternoon, a sun-baked gallery of thousands in full throat.
They were roaring for Woods, who was faced with the unenviable task of hitting one of the toughest tee shots on the course, a 185-yard approach over a pond into a howling wind.
A total of 36 balls found the water there Friday, but Woods carved a 5-iron up into the air and watched it fade toward the hole, stopping 10 feet away.