Tiger 'on track' for Masters contention

MIAMI - Tiger Woods' expectations have "gone up" after his 12th-place finish at the Honda Classic in Florida on Sunday.

Though a double bogey on the 15th ended any outside chance of victory at PGA National, Woods took confidence from his performance in just his third official start since undergoing a spinal fusion last April.

An apparently healthy Woods seems increasingly likely to head to April's Masters, the first major of 2018, as a contender, rather than just one of the players invited back as a former champion.

"I feel like each time out I've gotten better and I've gotten more of a feel for playing tournament golf," he said.

"The last couple days, it felt easy to play tournament golf. The warm-up felt good. I got into the flow of the round. I could find the rhythm of the rounds faster. The more golf I'm playing tournament-wise, the faster I'm able to click into the feel of the round.

"I feel very happy the way I played the entire week."

Woods shot 70 on Sunday to finish at even-par 280, eight strokes behind winner Justin Thomas.

Four weeks ago, Woods tied for 23rd in his official comeback at Torrey Pines, while he missed the cut last week at Riviera, where one bad round of 76 cost him.

That was his only score of more than 72 in 10 rounds so far this year.

"I'm just building towards April," Woods said. "I'm trying to get myself ready for that and I feel like I'm right on track."

Despite the positive signs, Woods demurred when asked if he felt like the 'old Tiger'.

"I feel like an older guy," he said.

"My new reality is my back's fused and I can't create the same shots I used to be able to create. I can hit the same shots - I just have to do it in a different way.

"I didn't really know what to expect. My expectations have gone up."

'Another level'

Thomas rolled in a birdie on the first hole of a playoff to outduel third-round leader Luke List.

The 24-year-old Thomas posted his eighth win on the USPGA Tour and his seventh victory in his past 31 tournaments.

"It was another level of difficulty, not only the amount of people I was trying to beat, but this golf course," said Thomas.

"I am so proud of myself and how I played. When you get out of position you have to try to salvage par, and that's exactly what I did.

"I just stayed patient. I know what to expect, how tough it can be to stay there, and it feels good to come out on top."

Thomas closed with a two-under 68 to catch 54-hole leader List, who had a one-under 69.

They both finished with an eight-under 272 total at the PGA National course.

Sweden's Alex Noren shot a three-under 67 to finish alone in third, just one stroke behind the leaders.

England's Tommy Fleetwood placed fourth after shooting a 69 to card a six-under 274 total, two shots adrift of Thomas and List.

Reuters/afp