JUSTIN TIME:Justin Rose blasts out of a bunker onto the 15th green on his way to a 7-under 65 and first-round lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational. (AP)
ORLANDO, Fla. — Players often have difficulty playing well while in the same group with Tiger Woods.
There is added commotion to deal with because of the larger crowds that follow Woods. There are more cameras clicking from the larger contingent of media inside the ropes. There, too, sometimes is an intimidation factor if a player is not familiar with Woods, whose lofty stature in the game precedes him.
For years, players have posted bloated scores while playing with Woods because of these variables.
Justin Rose is not one of those players. Not yesterday, anyway.
Rose, playing alongside Woods and Ernie Els in yesterday’s opening round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, played so well it was he — not Woods — who looked as if he were playing a different golf course than the rest of the field.
The Englishman shot a 7-under-par 65 to take a two-shot lead over John Huh into today’s second round — four shots better than the 3-under-par 69 for Woods, who won his last tournament (Doral) and came into the week hot.
John Rollins and Brad Fritsch were three shots back at 4-under while Woods and a long list of players, including Ryo Ishikawa, are tied at 3-under.
“When you play with Tiger, you’re sharp mentally,’’ Rose said. “In the first round of the tournament it just elevates the day a little bit, because he brings the crowd, he brings an atmosphere with him, and I think that helps in a sense. It helps get you in the zone.
“He’s always been the perfect playing partner. He’s very complimentary out there and we always have a good time. Pretty much anybody who plays with him says the same. Normally it’s the stuff that goes on outside the ropes that makes it hard to play with Tiger.’’
Rose, posting his lowest score in 31 career rounds at Bay Hill, played so well that nothing looked hard for him yesterday — particularly on the greens, where he needed only 25 putts and made an astounding 17-of-17 putts from 15 feet and in for the round.
Of his 65, Rose said he was “surprised by that number,’’ adding, “If you had said I would shoot a 65 on the range this morning, I would have probably said, ‘How many holes have I played?’ ’’
Woods praised Rose for playing “a beautiful round of golf.’’
Rose, who is coached by Sean Foley, the same man who has reconstructed Woods’ swing, said it is the putting that has made the difference for him thanks to “hard work’’ he has done on it for the last year.
“The U.S. Open last year I dedicated myself at making a few changes and getting better at that part of my game,’’ Rose said. “This was probably the first real sort of hot day I’ve had with the blade in a long, long time. There are just some days when you have it.’’
Woods and Rose, who began their respective rounds on the 10th hole, had a good duel going. Woods took the early advantage when he eagled the 16th to get to 3-under par to Rose’s 2-under after he, too, eagled 16.
The swing hole was 17, where Rose birdied to get to 3-under and Woods bogeyed to go back to 2-under. Woods then bogeyed 17 to fall to 1-under and chased Rose the rest of the day.
“I didn’t hit it my best, [but] I scored well,’’ Woods said. “I got a lot out of this round and I threw away a few shots as well.’’
Woods was at his best on the par-5s — something he has always done well at Bay Hill, where he is a combined 117-under par in 63 rounds. Woods was 5-under par on the par-5s yesterday.
“Obviously, Tiger is the man here at Bay Hill,’’ Rose said. “He’s won seven times. But it’s about what happens inside the ropes.’’