Tiger Woods' Honda Classic Opening Round Proves Legendary Golfer Is Gone

Tiger Woods finished the opening round at the Honda Classic with a one-over 71, hardly a horrible showing, but nothing that you would stop someone on the street to tell them about. And so it will go for Tiger Woods from here on out. 

Woods is now seven back at the tournament at Palm Beach Florida, and his putting showed no signs of allowing him to make a move on the leaderboard. 

Woods began the day with a birdie and gave it all back when he bogied six and seven. From there, it was all about driving some fine shots and messing it all up with shoddy putting that has no doubt lead to some colorful language behind the scenes. 

Woods drove the ball well and hit 10 of 14 fairways and 15 greens in regulation but the issues came down to putts that were just a shade off in pace and direction. 

They say that putting is the first to leave you as a golfer, and it has certainly left Woods at Palm Beach, Florida. 

Woods sounded very much the optimist after a round that was mediocre, but hardly a disaster. Via Yahoo! Sports. 

"

I just didn’t get a lot out of my round. I felt like I played a lot better and I putted a lot better. I just didn’t score.

"

During his epic slump, Woods has slid to 21st in his PGA ranking and there is little hope that he will magically turn the corner to become the elite once again. 

Watching him put together a decent show of it on Thursday felt like deja vu. We continue to watch Woods get one piece of his game back only to see another falter. 

Meanwhile, the youth of the game are ready, willing and very much able to take over. Rory McIlroy laid down a four-under 66 and looked poised from the start. 

If anyone looked like vintage Woods, it was McIlroy who seemed to be biding his time before he pounces on the lead. 

While McIlroy gets more refined in his game, Woods continues to fumble and bumble to another lackluster finish. 

The putting woes are only getting worse for a legend that has lost every last bit of his luster. It's time to stop waiting for Woods to come back and shock us all with an amazing return of consistent dominance, because that just isn't going to happen. 

Golf just doesn't come easily to Tiger Woods anymore. 

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