Woods hits the ground running with win

Tiger Woods cruised to victory on his first appearance of the season at the Buick Invitational in California.

Tiger Woods cruised to victory on his first appearance of the season at the Buick Invitational in California.

Playing competitively for the first time since knee surgery in December, Woods began the day with a one-stroke lead but won by four after shooting a four-under-par 68 in La Jolla.

Thanks to two typically brilliant shots, Woods led by at least four shots over the final seven holes and the world number one earned his 35th career win in just over six seasons on the PGA.

Phil Mickelson played with Woods and Brad Faxon in the final threesome but never got closer than two strokes, parring the first 10 holes and bogeying the next two to fall seven shots off the pace. He settled for an even-par 72.

Faxon started the day just a stroke back but bogeyed the first hole and never got closer than two the rest of the day, also carding a 72.

Woods, showing no ill-effects from his left knee, finished at 16 under par on 272.

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