Tiger Woods' first-round 72 at The Players Championship, hole by hole

It wasn’t the best that fans have seen from Tiger Woods, but it certainly wasn’t the worst. 

After spending most of his front nine in The Players Championship over par, Woods showed flashes of the form that force everyone to ask, “Is Tiger back?” It started with an eagle on No. 9 and a string of birdies to keep him as low as 1 under for the day.

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Given the highs and lows his fellow group members faced Thursday, it’s amazing Woods remained consistent throughout his first round, which ended with him at even par.

SN tracked Woods’ first round at The Players. Here’s what happened:

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Tiger Woods' score: Round 1
The Players Championship

HOLE 18: PAR 4, 462 YARDS​​​​​​

BOGEY (EVEN): Pulls the tee shot into the drink for a not-ideal start. Ever the champion of the people, Woods' second shot goes right into some spectators' chairs. Tiger finally made it to the green on his third shot. He'll have some distance to cover to save bogey. As he usually does, though, Tiger came through with a big putt, even if the approach wasn't great.

HOLE 17: PAR 3, 137 YARDS​​​​​

PAR (-1) Tee shot nearly flew off the green and into the water. His group mates weren't so lucky, but at least they were able to recover on their second attempt. Even with the tough landing, Tiger salvaged par after his second shot left him with a 3-foot putt.

HOLE 16: PAR 5, 523 YARDS​​​​

BIRDIE (-1) After a rough 15, Tiger moves on to No. 16, which has a 57 percent birdie rate. Tiger's tee shot carries over 270 yards. His second shot lands on the green but rolls to the back left collection area, which gives Tiger an iffy chance to get back into the red. On his third shot, Tiger hits it from the collection area to about 3 feet away from the hole for an easy birdie. 

HOLE 15: PAR 4, 470 YARDS​​​​

BOGEY (E) Tiger's issues with shots drifting to the right continue; the ball ends up right under the lip of a fairway bunker, much to his chagrin. His shot out of the bunker is a good distance outside the green, but at least the approach is somewhat accurate. His third-shot chip puts leaves with about a 7-foot par putt. He misses the putt left and then taps in for bogey.

HOLE 14: PAR 4, 481 YARDS​​​

PAR (-1) No. 14 has been a historically bad hole, and this year seems to be no different. Tiger's tee shot appears to be on target, but as soon as the camera pans away it becomes clear the ball would go over the right side of the gallery, likely in the rough. His second shot rolls through the green and his third shot runs past the hole a good 15 feet. That distance appears to be no problem for Tiger, though, as he drains the par putt easily and even gives a small fist pump.

HOLE 13: PAR 3, 181 YARDS​​​

PAR (-1) With intense winds swirling, Tiger hits the green as the ball rolls over a knob toward the back fringe. The remaining two strokes aren't as close and give him a tough task to remain 1 under, but he gets it done.

HOLE 12: PAR 4, 302 YARDS​​​

BIRDIE (-1) Tiger avoids following the lead of the rest of the field on 12 and elects to go down the middle with an iron instead of going for the green. The strategy pays as off as his second shot lands on the green for a chance at a birdie, which he sinks to live life under par.

HOLE 11: PAR 5, 558 YARDS​​​

PAR (E) Tiger continues to be a man of the people and launches his tee shot into the pine straw. Luckily for him, his second shot is down the middle. His third-shot wedge to about 15 to 20 feet from the hole gives him a chance at birdie. The birdie putt falls short, but it's not the worst par given his current situation.

HOLE 10: PAR 4, 424 YARDS​​

PAR (E) Much like it appeared that Tiger shook off the bogey when teeing off at No. 4, it seems he shook off the eagle with his first two shots. His tee shot goes into the bunker and his second shot goes left. Tiger's birdie attempt comes up about 6-7 feet short, leaving him in a tight spot for par, but he sinks the putt.

HOLE 9: PAR 5, 583 YARDS​​

EAGLE (E) Tiger smashes his tee shot with a driver for one of his rare fairways hit on the day. The momentum carries over into his second shot: Tiger sets himself up for an eagle putt thanks to the ball running just off of the green and 20 feet from the hole. True to "Tiger is back!" form, he sinks the putt for eagle.

HOLE 8: PAR 3, 237 YARDS​​

PAR (+2) His tee shot takes a big bounce right past the flag and gives him 48 feet coming back down the hill. The second shot stops just short of the hole, giving Tiger a second two-putt par.

HOLE 7: PAR 4, 451 YARDS​

PAR (+2) The shot off the tee catches the first cut and Tiger is able to get himself onto the green with his approach. He tries to be more defensive on his birdie attempt and ultimately settles for a two-putt par.

HOLE 6: PAR 4, 393 YARDS​

PAR (+2) His iron off the tee looks like it caught the fairway, then seems to lean right off it. His second shot could not have been better, however, as it lands in a prime spot to make birdie — which he was unable to convert. He does sink a short putt for par, so at least there's that.

HOLE 5: PAR 4, 471 YARDS​

BOGEY (+2) Tiger drives it into the fan on No. 5, just missing the bunker but making it into the rough. His approach attempt was less than ideal, though at least it was in the right direction this time. His third shot lands on the short side and puts him in an uncomfortable position to save par. He's unable to sink that shot and has to settle for bogey.

HOLE 4: PAR 4, 384 YARDS​

PAR (+1) His low iron off the tee is near-perfect. It looks as though he has already put the bogey behind him. Tiger's approach leaves him 20 feet short and his birdie putt falls short, too. Tiger walks away with a par.

HOLE 3: PAR 3, 177 YARDS​

BOGEY (+1) Woods' tee shot goes wide right once again and leaves him away among his group. He chips his second to about 5 feet from the hole, a great approach, but he misses the close par putt and leaves 3 with a bogey.

HOLE 2: PAR 5, 532 YARDS

PAR (E) Tiger's tee shot carries 267 yards and curves into the right rough again. He's forced to chip out onto the fairway with his second shot, and then he finds the green with his third shot. His long birdie putt misses left and a couple feet short. He sinks the par putt with ease.

HOLE 1: PAR 4, 423 YARDS​

PAR (E) Tiger Woods' first shot of the day goes into the right rough. His second shot lands on the green and puts him in position for a long birdie attempt. The birdie putt comes up short and Woods finishes the hole with a two-putt par.

A look at Tiger Woods' history at The Players. 

Tiger Woods' Top 5 shots @THEPLAYERSChamp :

5. 🦅
4. 💪
3. 🦅💪
2. 🏆
1. 😱 pic.twitter.com/cL27i6RTdY

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 8, 2018