Woods improves in second round back, cards 2-under 70

Tiger Woods was hot on Friday at the Hero World Challenge, but not quite in the way you’d expect.

Running a 100-degree temperature, Woods was better on Day 2 at Isleworth Golf & Country Club, shooting a rain-interrupted, 2-under 70 that marked his first competitive under-par round since July 31. That’s the good news.

The bad news? Woods was blitzed not only by red-donning playing partner Patrick Reed’s second-round 63, but also by a number of players in the 18-man field on a day where the tough Orlando area course was vulnerable to scoring.

Then there was the matter of how the round ended. Following on four chunked chip shots on Thursday, Woods hit the Earth first with his greenside chip shot on Isleworth’s finisher, leading to a double-bogey 6 that turned a solid 68 into a tainted 70.

From tee to green, Woods looked sharp, swinging freely in a way more reminiscent of his younger years that the compact, short, stuck swing he’s been making since 2010 with Sean Foley. Woods worked the ball with his driver, including the long-lost towering draw from the tee box.

Iron play was controlled for the most part, leading to an impressive eagle at the par-5 13th, again on the 14th and the 16th.

Again, however, it was Woods’ short game that let him down. Woods is trying to remake his short-game motion after the baffling decision to shape his game inside 125 yards after the Foley full swing. Without the confidence and consistency that are paramount to a potent short game, it’s hard to execute. That was on display at No. 18.

Woods is still in last place in the 18-player field and only one of two players not under par through 36 holes. However, there’s plenty of reason for Woods to be pleased with what he’s showing outside of 50 yards. Unfortunately, it’s that piece of the game that will turn bad rounds into decent ones and decent rounds into great, maybe major-winning rounds.

It’s a process.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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