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Are Tiger Woods' tee times at the Genesis Invitational a helper or a hindrance?

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 2/15/23

The excitement surrounding Tiger Woods' return to the PGA Tour circuit was elevated on Tuesday once tee times and groups for the event were announced. Focus has, not surprisingly, been on the 82-time PGA champion being paired up with world No. 7 Justin Thomas and world No. 2 Rory McIlroy.

But what's perhaps more interesting is the shortened window of time between the 47-year-old's tee times for the first and second rounds -- and how that could impact how he plays the rest of the weekend.

As the Golf Channel's Todd Lewis pointed out on social media on Wednesday, Woods' 12:04 p.m. tee time for Round 1 and 7:24 a.m. tee time for Round 2 will give him less time to recoup should he feel sore after the first day.

One thing to consider for @TigerWoods tee times on Thursday and Friday. He is going late on Thursday, early on Friday which will not give him much time physically recover given his injuries.
— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) February 15, 2023

Keep in mind that Woods hasn't been able to get around a course without a golf cart in some time in the aftermath of the February 2021 car accident that could have ended his career. If the veteran begins to feel discomfort after the first round, his recovery window is pretty short.

Now, while walking the Riviera Golf Course is one thing, swinging the golf club is an entirely different one -- and something Woods doesn't appear to be having any issues doing in practice.