Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm in contention at Genesis Invitational

Tiger Woods (right) teed disconnected alongside adjacent person Rory McIlroy (left)

Tournament big Tiger Woods closed with 3 successive birdies arsenic helium returned to competitory play with a two-under 69 astatine the Genesis Invitational.

The American, 47, is 5 shots down associated leaders Keith Mitchell and Max Homa astatine the Riviera Country Club.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, hoping to instrumentality to satellite fig one, finished his circular 3 disconnected the lead.

A archetypal triumph successful the California lawsuit - which is 1 of the PGA Tour's 'elevated' events featuring an accrued prize money of $20m (£16.6m) - would instrumentality McIlroy to the apical of the rankings careless of existent incumbent Scottie Scheffler's position.

A top-three decorativeness could beryllium capable depending connected the last positions of Scheffler and Spain's Jon Rahm, who is 3rd successful the rankings.

In a bogey-free round, McIlroy birdied the archetypal and last, but could lone prime up further shots astatine the 11th and 14th successful signaling an opening-round 67.

Rahm finished his circular successful 3rd place, 1 changeable disconnected the lead, pursuing a circular that featured 8 birdies and 2 bogeys, portion Scheffler's opening 70 included 3 bogeys successful 5 holes.

Birdies connected the last 2 holes moved him backmost into contention, ending connected 1 under.

Woods, who severely injured his close limb and ft successful a car mishap 2 days aft this tourney successful 2021, said helium retained the self-belief to triumph large events.

"I was capable to combat backmost and get it going, it was a bully finish," helium said.

"That's the lone crushed wherefore I tee it up. There volition travel a constituent successful clip erstwhile I can't bash this anymore, but close present I consciousness similar I inactive can, fixed the close play course.

"There's thing similar crippled time, the feeling of the butterflies and trying to calm each that worldly down.

"[With] the adrenaline, the shot goes further. I had to dial each that backmost in."

Woods has won a associated grounds 82 PGA Tour titles, tied with Sam Snead, but helium has ne'er won astatine the Riviera Country Club successful 13 erstwhile attempts.

At the caput of the field, Homa, victor of the lawsuit successful 2021, picked up shots connected 4 successive holes from the seventh, though was lone level par for the last five. Mitchell came location successful 31, including birdies connected the last 2 holes.

American trio Harris English, Matt Kuchar and Collin Morikawa are associated fourth, 2 shots down the leaders.