Tiger, Genesis both winners

PACIFIC PALISADES — Those guys high on the leaderboard three rounds into this very-much-in-doubt Genesis Invitational are some of golf’s current big guns. Jon Rham, Max Homa, and Keith Mitchell.

That guy who made the run on Saturday nobody expected — except him — is arguably the biggest, the top gun if you will, Tiger Woods.

He’s not going to win, not going to gain 12 shots on Rahm, who shot 65 for a 15-under total of 198, or Homa, who had a 69 for 201.

But in a way, Woods already is a winner — and so is the Genesis, which surprisingly, will have the unmatched attraction of Tiger for four rounds.

In virtually his hometown, or at least  40 miles away from his hometown in Orange County.

On a course where in 1992 he played for the first time in a PGA Tour tournament, famed Riviera — Hogan’s Alley — where despite all his success, Woods never has been a champion. 

Surprisingly, because after a 74 Friday that pushed Tiger to the edge of the cut line and had everyone concerned with Woods throwing a Tampon at playing partner Justin Thomas, Tiger on Saturday shot 67 — his lowest since the car accident two years ago.

“The golf has been nice,” Woods’ caddy Joe LaCava, told Barstool’s Dan Rapoport. “But the fact that he’s been holding up, looking healthy, and not tiring at the end of rounds is a good sign.”

That he’s not retiring at the end of the round if it’s a good normal round. Woods was on two as are most Tour pros. He was in the hole-in-one, an eagle, as are some of the pros. The roar rolled down to the coast a half-mile away.

“Yeah, today was better,” said Tiger.

His smile was worth more than words. 

“I felt like I made some nice adjustments with my putting and that was the thing that held me back yesterday. I’ve driven it well the last three days, my iron play has been good. And the firm conditions I like, that's kind of right up my alley with iron play.’’

Homa the Cal grad, as Tiger was a kid from Southern California, Valencia. He said he took up golf as a youngster after watching Woods on TV at the 1997 Masters.

That’s an explanation often heard from many of the Tour’s new stars. Now they’ve moved into territory once claimed by Woods.

That’s the way it’s always been in all sports. New people move in as older stars slip away. Not that Tiger Woods, 47, is ready to take his leave.     

“I was saying earlier, I can hit golf balls,” said Tiger. “Thinking about the future, I can chip and putt back home and I can do all that stuff. It’s taken a bit of time.”

Golf is a sport without a clock. You play until you are not able. Tiger showed he still is able.