The Live Report, Practice Day 2, Accenture Match Play
Note: PGATOUR.COM's T.J. Auclair is on-site on the second practice day of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship. He will file updates all day long.
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INTERVIEW INSANITY (1:24 p.m. ET) -- Sorry I couldn't give you readers more from the press conference. I was stuck way in the back of the tent and couldn't see much.
I did find out afterward that there were 20 television cameras in the room, countless still photographers, approximately 120 seats and it was standing room only.
Before the interview ended, Tiger was asked what it's been like having a newborn again. He said he wasn't getting much sleep at home, so this is his week to sleep.
Funny he should say that. Because of Tiger I was up at 5 a.m. today!
So while the world No. 1 is gaining sleep this week, the rest of it are happily losing it because he's finally back.
STANDING ROOM ONLY (12:53 p.m. ET) -- The interview area -- think of a small circus tent, which is fitting here -- is packed. You can't even move!
Cameras are clicking non-stop and there's no place to sit down.
Tiger opened by telling everyone he was sorry to be 50 minutes late for his scheduled noon ET press conference, "but I forgot how long it takes to walk 18 holes. I'm used to having a cart."
A FUTURE FOE? (12:49 p.m. ET) -- On the practice green behind No. 18, Japanese teen sensation Ryo Ishikawa waited to meet Tiger for the first time.
The two shook hands and had a quick introduction as they were swarmed by a sea of photographers, then Tiger headed to the media center for his interview.
NEARING THE END (12:44 p.m. ET) -- Tiger is finishing up on the 18th hole. Overall the crowds for his practice round were huge considering he went out so early and it's not even a competitive round.
All along the ropes people were two and three deep in spots. Behind the 18th green, fans are about five-deep waiting to catch a glimpse of Tiger.
LONG ON THE SHORT GAME (12:37 p.m. ET) -- As we've mentioned, Tiger has been spending a lot if time chipping and putting.
While this is just practice, the long layoff doesn't seem to have had any effect on his touch. The putting and the chipping both look very sharp.
TIGER ALMOST DONE (12:35 p.m. ET) -- Tiger is on the 17th hole now. After hitting his drive into a bunker to the right of the fairway he actually played it from the sand.
There haven't been a whole lot of wayward tee shots by Tiger this morning, but most of the ones he hit into the rough, he simply picked up and dropped in the fairway.
PADRAIG KNOWS HOW IT IS (12:23 p.m. ET) -- Padraig Harrington faces Pat Perez in the 1:43 p.m. ET match on Wednesday. And one of the Irish reporters mentioned that Perez has been talking about how tired he is after having already played six weeks in a row.
Perez won the 50th Bob Hope Classic presented by Arnold Palmer in the second week of that marathon. His first PGA TOUR victory moved him from 90th to 59th in the world rankings and put him in position to play in the Accenture Match Play Championship.
The way Harrington sees it, he and Perez aren't that different. "Pat has got the mindset like me that he likes to keep himself down and build himself back up," Harrington said, laughing. "Pat, I believe, is a very good ball-striker, hits the ball quite a long way, which should suit this golf course. I've built him up quite nicely in my head, too. That's the nature.
"I've tried this over the years. It doesn't matter who you play in the top 64. They can all play. I think this is one of those courses that you don't know could be taken in any way, shape, or form. If ... Pat Perez plays good golf tomorrow, he's going to be very, very difficult to beat.
"I've got to go out there and believe that I've got to play my game and bring -- and still, you don't know if that's going to be good enough. You have to accept, go out there and play, and see what happens. But certainly I think in my mind Pat is a tough competitor to go against tomorrow." -- Helen Ross
LEFTY'S PRESS CONFERENCE (12:22 p.m. ET) -- Even Phil Mickelson was a bit surprised by the Tiger Woods media crush earlier today. Before Mickelson went out for a practice round of his own, he talked about the impact Woods has had on the sport and the throng awaiting the arrival of Woods this morning.
"It's pretty evident to see what he has done for the game of golf," Mickelson said. "I came here on a Tuesday practice round and as I'm walking to the range I've never seen so many cameras and photographers, especially that early in the morning waiting for Tiger to get there." -- Brian Wacker
YOU DA MAN (12:10 p.m. ET) -- Best cheer of the day so far that even made Tiger crack a smile comes from a man on the 15th tee: "Come on Tiger, let's go! Get pumped up, baby! Get pumped up!"
NEW COURSE, NEW CHALLENGE (12:05 p.m. ET) -- As Woods was making the turn, Padraig Harrington was in the interview room explaining some of the nuances of the Jack Nicklaus-designed Ritz-Carlton Golf Club on Tuesday.
The Irishman has already played 27 holes but he says it will still take him a while to understand all the pin positions. As he was talking, Harrington couldn't help noticing that the reporter on the front row had decided this was the right time to read the newspaper.
"Obviously, I'm boring the guy in front," Harrington said with a smile. He began to talk again, then chuckled and shook his head as if he still couldn't believe the bold move before continuing.
"It's one of those courses you're just going to have to put up with and keep firing at the flags, which is good for match play," Harrington finally concluded. "It is actually a match play golf course. You really can't judge that much until you play competitively." -- Helen Ross
PRESS CONFERENCE UPDATE (11:56 a.m. ET) -- Tiger's post-round press conference will be streamed live in PGATOUR.COM, but it looks like he'll be in the media center around 12:40 p.m. ET. It was originally scheduled for around noon.
As soon as Tiger's in the media center, we'll stream it from the home page, so check back often.
TIGER ON NO. 14 (11:54 a.m. ET) -- As the crowds continue to swell, Tiger makes his way up the 14th fairway, they're also getting a little more rowdy.
Frequent, "Let's go Tiger!" chants are erupting after almost every shot. Tiger has acknowledged a few with a very quiet "thank you."
DON'T LOOK FOR A SCORE (11:26 a.m. ET) -- Regarding Tiger's play, a practice round certainly isn't the place to try and post a number. He's hitting it well, but is more interested in finding his lines.
For the majority of the round, Tiger has been playing one ball from tee to green and then once he arrives at the green, he's been chipping an putting from various spots with three balls. On the par-5s, he has been hitting more then one tee shots where there are two sets of tees.
NO HICCUPS HERE (11:19 a.m. ET) -- I probably should have touched on this earlier, but people are asking how Tiger looks swinging the club. I guess I forgot to mention it because the swing looks great... just like the Tiger we know and watched dominate before.
The biggest and most refreshing difference is that there's no grimacing after every shot like when we last saw him at the U.S. Open. He's actually smiling after a lot of shots and genuinely looks thrilled to be back. As for his physique? He definitely wasn't laying on the couch chowing down on potato chips while he was gone. He looks as ripped as ever.
THE GROUP GROWS (11:13 a.m. ET) -- We've just made the turn to the back nine and not surprisingly, the crew has about tripled.
With the added fans are more autograph requests for Tiger. As is always the case, he doesn't sign while practicing, but he's been courteous about it. Even still, that's nor enough for everyone as one grumpy older man said, "Geez, you'd think he could sign one! He's been away eight months!"
HEY DOUG (10:56 a.m. ET) -- As noted before, Tiger has had tunnel vision throughout this practice round, speaking only to his caddie and coach Hank Haney.
On No. 8 he broke the silence, as AP golf writer Doug Ferguson approached him in the fairway. Not sure what they talked about, it was brief. Probably just a quick hello and welcome back.
CRACK OF DAWN (10:53 a.m. ET) -- The PGA TOUR Communications staff on site arrived at the media center at 5:30 a.m. -- and there were already a handful of photographers waiting to get their credentials.
In the next 30 minutes, though, the crowd began arriving, even though it was still pitch black outside. The local NBC affiliate even did a live remote -- and it was so dark you could barely see the imposing Catalina foothills in the distance. -- Helen Ross
OBSTACLE COURSE (10:48 a.m. ET) -- Negotiating my way to the eighth tee, I had to weave around a few cactus plants. Luckily, my brother Kyle -- a photographer -- saved me from a painful rest of the day.
As I was walking he gave me a "whisper-yell," you know like when someone speaks loudly enough for everyone to hear, but they think they're whispering?
Anyway, who knew I would get a botany lesson out here today? According to Kyle, there's this tiny, bushy plant called a "jumping cactus."
Kyle also says, the thing is meaner than Mike Tyson.
If you get too close, the cactus needles actually jump at you. I don't know if he's serious, but he claims to have been attacked by one last year. Describing the attack, Kyle used words I can't use here.
BREAK IT UP (10:29 a.m. ET) -- The crowd following Tiger seems to have thinned out a bit as he plays the seventh hole.
Chances are, it's because most of those who were following him were media and they've retreated to the media center to either file stories or send photos.
There's still a strong media contingent following Tiger up the seventh hole. As we get closer to the main spectator entrance, it will surely grow.
Weather-wise, Tiger couldn't have asked for a nicer day to return with cloudless blue skies, plenty of sunshine and that lovely warm, dry Arizona air.
NO SLIPPAGE (10:07 a.m. ET) -- Just skipped ahead to the middle of the fairway on No. 5. Anyone out there concerned about how the reconstruction of the knee might affect Tiger's swing?
Rest easy, folks. Tiger just belted a 353-yard drive at No. 5.
ZIPPING ALONG (9:53 a.m. ET) -- One thing you've got to know about Tiger: He doesn't play slow.
He's already zipped through three holes and is only slowing down to hit some extra putts.
His focus, as always, is incredible. All these people following him, asking for autographs, offering well-wishes, yet, if you look at him, it's as though Tiger thinks he and Stevie are the only two out here.
STUCK ON TIGER (9:35 a.m. ET) -- There are finally some spectators mingled in amongst the media horde. At this point, Dove Mountain has more photographers than it does cactus plants.
I hope that doesn't come back to stab me. Navigating around cactus plants with your head buried in an iPhone blogging isn't easy! But it sure is fun!
OFF ALONE, BUT NOT REALLY (9:24 a.m. ET) -- After a 15-minute session on the range, Tiger and caddie Steve Williams went alone to the first tee for a practice round with about 200 members of the media in tow.
Tiger ripped a 3-wood down the middle of the fairway with his first shot. Doesn't look there's any rust and definitely no limp since we last saw him eight months ago.
REUNITED (9:12 a.m. ET) -- Tiger Woods is officially back on the PGA TOUR. Aside from about 150 media people, Tiger and Phil are the lone souls on the range, about 30 yards between each other.
Butch Harmon is standing behind Phil, and Hank Haney is behind Tiger.
There were no smiles as Tiger stepped on the range. He was all business and began hitting wedge shots.
ANY MINUTE NOW (9 a.m. ET) -- The sun just risen over Tucson, and there are roughly 100 media people gathered on the range in anticipation of Tiger's return. If you'll remember, the announcement of Tiger's return came last Thursday shortly after Phil Mickelson posted a season-low 63 at the Northern Trust Open.
This morning, as everyone awaits Woods, guess who was first to show up on the practice tee? Jim "Bones" MacKay, Lefty's caddie. Phil followed shortly after.
Coincidence with the timing of Tiger's announcement and then Phil's early appearance on the range this morning? I don't know, but it's worth noting.
But as he walked to his position on the range, Lefty said to the media, "Don't worry, he's coming."
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