Tiger Woods hits a shank in his return to golf and opens with 72 at Riviera

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Any chance of Tiger Woods breaking par in his first official PGA Tour event in 10 months ended with one swing Thursday and a five-letter word he wasn't afraid to say.

Shank.

Woods said his back began to spasm over the final few holes in the Genesis Invitational at Riviera. He said that's what led to his 8-iron from the middle of the 18th fairway that shot off at a 45-degree angle into the eucalyptus trees.

“Oh, definitely I shanked it,” Woods said. “My back was spasming the last couple holes and it was locking up. I came down and it didn't move and I presented hosel first and shanked it.”