SAN DIEGO – Even with weeks to prepare for one of golf’s most noticeable rule changes, Tiger Woods nearly flinched as he stood over a birdie putt on the eighth green Thursday at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Woods was facing a ticklish, 45-foot birdie attempt – the kind of putt that can easily race past the target even with proper pace. But under the new Rules of Golf, it’s exactly the type of putt where players might opt to leave the flagstick in for some added support. That’s just what Woods did, leading to an easy two-putt par, but there was still a sense of uncertainty as he addressed the ball.