By James Corrigan
Never has a lost man stumbling around in a desert looked so distraught to find water. Tiger Woods's reaction on the 18th hole, as he watched his ball sink, summed up a woeful, birdieless morning which leaves him facing his second missed cut in as many weeks.
Of course, it was not going to be straightforward, returning after an 18-month absence from official competition necessitated by multiple back operations. But Woods clearly did not believe it would be this brutal.
Doing it tough in the desert: Tiger Woods.Credit: Getty Images
And the fact that he is not only 12 shots off the Desert Classic lead here but that the pacesetter is his long-time enemy Sergio Garcia only makes his predicament appear that bit more cruel.
Little wonder that his frustration boiled over into a few four-letter expletives during his 77, his worst score in 29 rounds at the Emirates golf course. The lowlight came on that par-five 18th (his ninth) where, from just 100 yards, he hit his approach into the lake guarding the green. But the succession of yanked putts was just as galling.
Woods struggled in his highly-anticipated comeback.Credit: Getty Images
In his previous seven appearances at this event, Woods had not failed to break par in his opening round and the longest stretch he had gone without making a birdie was nine holes. He is standing in a tie for 122nd in the 132-man field. Following his travails at Torrey Pines, this Dubai debacle was anything but the start he wanted to the next chapter in his career.
"I didn't hit the ball very well," Woods said. "I left probably about 16 putts short. I just couldn't get the speed of these things, and consequently, it added up to a pretty high number."
The 41-year-old seemed to be moving gingerly, especially in the early stages. But he was adamant he "wasn't in any pain at all". For him the agony was all in his swing. There were fine drives on his last two holes, the eighth and ninth, but, worryingly, he did not know what had been the problem before.
"If I knew, I could tell you right now," Woods said. "The last two drives there was something different. I need to figure out what the hell I did that was different, and then replicate it for hopefully another 54 more holes."
Playing alongside were Englishmen Matt Fitzpatrick and Danny Willett, who shot a 69 and 71 respectively. Fitzpatrick said he always imagined playing with Woods but, no he could not have imagined bettering his score by eight shots.
"You don't want to see anyone playing poorly, but he's been out for 18 months so anyone would be rusty," Fitzpatrick said. "But playing with Tiger Woods was an amazing experience for me and one I'll never forget. He marked my card and signed it so I'll ask the Tour if they can give it back to me so I can frame it."
Woods will not definitely not be wanting to keep his scorecard, which comprised 13 pars, five bogeys. The crowds came out in force to see him, but were left with absolutely nothing to cheer. Garcia's 65 - as well as the 66s posted by Felipe Aguilar and George Coetzee and, indeed, the 67 by England's Ian Poulter - showed that the Emirates Golf Course was there for the taking.
Garcia, yet to achieve a top-10 finish in seven previous Dubai appearances, appreciated his morning tee time and the lack of wind.
"The last probably six holes or so, [the wind] started picking up it, and [the course] was playing a little bit tougher," he said. "But I hit the ball nicely. I got away with a couple of loose shots."
Two-time champion Stephen Gallacher, of Scotland, said after his 72 they were some of the toughest conditions he had faced on the Majlis course. "It was tough to putt, really," he said. "The wind was moving the putts on the greens, so you would aim for it one time and do it the next and it would move."
The bad news for Woods fans is that high winds are forecast today, although the man himself thinks that may be his only shot.
"Hopefully this wind blows tomorrow and I shoot a good round and get back to even par - that's certainly not out of the realm of winning the tournament," he said. "But I have to go out there and do it." Alas, that seems a very big "but". He is clutching at straws in a gale.
The Telegraph, London