Tiger survives rules scare

Tiger Woods survived a rules scare but battled a heavy fever, a severe rain storm and then a ‘mud’ ball at the last to post a two under par 70 on day two of the Hero World Challenge in Windermere, Florida.

Woods round included a 13th hole eagle, and his first all year, along with three birdies through 17 holes to be four under for the round and heading for only his seventh sub-70 all year.

But Florida’s Sunshine State status was left drenched when a huge downpour lashed the course around 3pm local time, quickly flooding fairways, bunkers and greens.

There was an 82-minute delay, with Woods returning to the 18th tee only to collect mud on his ball from the tee shot.

But Woods then ‘duffed’ his third, a chip of some 10 yards, and walking off with a double bogey ‘6’ on the IsleworthEstate course where he wasa resident for more than a decade.

“It was disappointing to come back from the delay and double the last but overall my game wasn’t all that different from day one,” he said.

A day earlier Woods had shot his worst score in 14 of 15 appearances in the event, and in a tournament he’s wonfive times and finished runner-up on just as many occasions.

However before tee-off on day two of the $3.5m event Woods was officially pardoned in yet another of golf’s ‘Trial by Video’ sagas.

A number of viewers complained Woods may have improved his lie on a slope at the left of the 17th green on day one after banging his club into the ground. The PGA Tour’s Mark Wilson cleared the 14-time Major winner of any rules discretion.

Woods was clearly struggling before tee off, and it wasn’t over any rules violation, and admitting while hitting balls on the Isleworth range he had awoke to a 102 degree temperature.

“I just didn’t get any sleep all night but then the fever broke out there on the course this afternoon,” he said, still coughing.

Justin Rose (64) and Gleneagles Ryder Cup rival Patrick Reed (63) shared the clubhouse lead on eight under par but with Henrik Stenson, playing in his first tournament since winning the European Tour season-ending event, at 11-under par through 14 holes.

Two-time former event winner Graeme McDowell remained at four under par and level for his round with three holes to play.