Tiger Woods stumbles on back nine at Honda Classic

There was a time Sunday when it looked like the one clad in the red shirt would charge into contention at The Honda Classic, much like he’d done here six years ago.  Tiger Woods twice made birdies to pull within four shots of the lead, but his rally stalled both times.  It was still his best performance of this nascent comeback, as Woods finished at even-par 280 (70-71-69-70). He made an 18-footer for birdie on No. 14 to reach 3 under, but then hit his tee shot on the next hole into the water. It was the second time this week that he found the water on the opening hole of the three-hole stretch dubbed the “Bear Trap.” He also reached 3 under after making a 9-footer for birdie on the eighth hole. He pulled his tee shot on the next hole and missed the green. Woods used putter from a collection area right of the putting surface but missed his 5-foot par putt. Woods was seven shots back at the start of the round, but holed a 20-footer for birdie on the first hole and 9-foot birdie putts on Nos. 4 and 8.  He was 8 over par this week on Nos. 15-17. He hit it into the water on No. 15 in the second and fourth rounds. On Saturday, he bogeyed both Nos. 15 and 17. Six years ago, Woods fired a final-round 62 here to nearly chase down Rory McIlroy. Woods, seeking his first win since 2009, eagled the 18th hole to finish two back. Woods won the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard three weeks later.

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