LOS ANGELES

Three holes into his return to Riviera after a 12-year absence, Tiger Woods was 2-over par and bracing for the worst.

It turned out to be another step forward.

Woods overcame a drive that apparently never came down from a eucalyptus tree, another tee shot that wound up on another hole and few careless mistakes with the irons to post a 1- over 72 in the opening round Thursday at the Genesis Open.

Riviera was at its best under full sunshine and greens that felt firm under the feet even in the morning. No one shot better than 67 from the early side of the draw.

His drive on the par-5 11th sailed to the right toward the trees. About 10 minutes later, a golf cart drove up to the tee with Woods in the passenger seat. He never found his ball, presumably swallowed up by the tree. There were questions that someone would have picked it up, but not enough evidence to suggest it was anything but lost.

He made double bogey.