Grading Tiger Woods' first round in 2024 PGA Tour debut

Tiger Woods returned to the golf course Thursday for his 2024 PGA Tour debut. The 15-time major champion fired a 1-over 72 in the first round of The Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, but how did he look while doing so?

Let's recap Woods' first competitive round of 2024 and grade aspects of his game. 

Off the tee: A-minus

Surprisingly, the driver was Woods' most consistent club during his first-round trek around Riviera Country Club. Woods hit eight of 14 fairways (57.1 percent) and ranked 22nd of 70 players in average driving distance when he walked off the 18th hole. He also gained strokes off the tee, just as he did at the Hero World Challenge in December. 

Woods looked comfortable with the driver in his hands, and he was able to play a consistent baby cut for most of the round. It's impressive that after countless surgeries, Woods can still drive the ball long and straight at the age of 48. 

Iron play: C+

Woods was the best iron player in the world throughout his prime, and he might go down as the greatest approach player to ever live. But that Tiger isn't around anymore.

Woods lost strokes on approach in four of his past five starts entering the week, and that trend is likely to continue. He hit only 10 of 18 greens in regulation and finished his round ranked 49th in the field in strokes gained: approach. In a fitting end to the round, Woods cold-shanked his approach shot to the 18th green into the trees and made a bogey.

Short game: C-minus

As poor as Woods' iron play was in the first round, his short game was even worse. Woods finished the day just 2-for-8 scrambling (25 percent), the third-worst mark in the field. As for the putter, Woods lost most of his strokes on the green. It took him 30 putts to get around Riviera on Thursday, and he missed five putts inside 10 feet. 

Woods struggled with his speed on the greens all day, and he actually made some important come-backers after blowing his first putt three or four feet by the hole. 

Overall: B-minus

Woods wasn't especially sharp in his 2024 debut, but not many players are after taking two months off. Sure, he struggled with his irons and short game, but his full swing looked smooth and comfortable all day. The golf icon was rotating through the ball as well as we've seen him do in months, so there are positives to take away from his round. 

The biggest positive, though, was his mobility. Woods didn't limp at all throughout the round, and he didn't seem to be in any noticeable pain. That's a great sign for his season.