The 15-time major winner carded a 4-over-par 75, which included a double-bogey on the course’s shortest hole.
The first round, which was Woods’ first since missing the cut at the Open Championship last month, leaves the 43-year-old some 13 shots adrift of the leader, Troy Merritt.
More worryingly for him, Tiger could now miss the cut for the first time in the FedExCup Playoffs, which also would jeopardize a return to East Lake for the TOUR Championship.
“We all knew it was soft out here with the rain last night,” he told reporters after the first round.
“I knew I had to go get it, post a low one, and didn’t do it. It’s certainly out there. Greens are soft. Fairways are soft. You can play aggressively and not have any real ramifications for playing aggressive.”
Merritt had no such issues, tying the course record with a 9-under 62 to take a one-shot lead over Dustin Johnson, who won The Northern Trust Open in 2017.
Kevin Kisner and Jon Rahm follow at 7-under, one shot ahead of Tony Finau, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Webb Simpson.
Meanwhile, world number one and pre-tournament favorite Brooks Koepka is tied for 65th after finishing 1-under par on Thursday.
Here’s all you need to know ahead of the second round.
Round 1 leaderboard
Troy Merritt -9Dustin Johnson -8Kevin Kisner, Jon Rahm -7Tony Finau, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Webb Simpson -6Max Homa, Chez Reavie, Patrick Reed, Brian Stuard, Danny Willett, Chesson Hadley, Corey Conners, Russell Knox, Patton Kizzire -5.
Selected tee times (all times ET)
Tee number one
7:21 a. m. —Sergio Garcia, Danny Lee, Abraham Ancer12:11 p. m. —Bubba Watson, Troy Merritt, Charley Hoffman12:22 p. m. —Patrick Reed, Louis Oosthuizen, Max Homa12:33 p. m. —Scott Piercy, J. T. Poston, Tiger Woods12:44 p. m. —Chez Reavie, Charles Howell III, Tony Finau12:55 p. m. —Dustin Johnson, Webb Simpson, Jon Rahm1:06 p. m. —Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Matt Kuchar
Tee number 10
7:21 a. m. —Kevin Streelman, Jordan Spieth, Matthew Wolff7:54 a. m. —Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, Tommy Fleetwood8:05 a. m. —Justin Rose, Marc Leishman, Rickie Fowler8:16 a. m. —Xander Schauffele, Gary Woodland, Patrick Cantlay12:22 p. m. —Rafa Cabrera Bello, Ian Poulter, Ryan Moore12:44 p. m. —Lucas Glover, Brandt Snedeker, Phil Mickelson12:55 p. m. —Shane Lowry, Adam Scott, Kevin Kisner
TV coverage
On Friday, coverage begins at 2 p.m. ET on Golf Channel, which will also broadcast live action between 1 p.m. ET and 2:45 p.m. and between 12 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Live stream
The second round can be watched online via PGA Tour Live and on Golf Channel’s digital platforms, while the last two rounds on Saturday and Sunday will also be available online via CBS Sports website.
A live stream for all four rounds will be available via fuboTV.
