Tiger tracker: Woods struggles to 1-over 73 in Round 1 of Hero World Challenge - USA TODAY

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For the third consecutive year at Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas, the golf world awaits the next chapter of the Tiger Woods story line.

Unlike the previous two years at the Hero World Challenge, however, when few, including Woods himself, knew what the future held, let alone how much of a future in golf there would be, this time around there’s a better grasp on the coming year.

With his health restored and his back surgically repaired, Woods changed the narrative in 2018 and delivered a rewrite for the coming years. From the dark days of the great unknown, Woods has an unclouded vision of the future following a 2018 he called his most rewarding year in the game.

However, his chances of closing out 2018 with a victory in the event he hosts — and has won five times — aren't good. Woods drove the ball well but had trouble on and around the greens on his way to a first-round 1-over 73 on Thursday, eight shots behind Patrick Cantlay and Patrick Reed.

Tracking Tiger's round shot by shot:

No. 18, par 4, 470 yards

Tiger's last tee shot of the day is excellent ... today's troubles were not driven by the driver. And that excellent tee shot is followed by Tiger's best approach of the day. From 170 yards to about 2 feet. At least he closes on a very strong note, with a terrific birdie. 1 over

No. 17, par 3, 183 yards

Tiger is +5 on the par-3s in Round 1, and once again a par-3 causes problems. Tiger misses the green to the right, and will have a tricky pitch off a hill to the pin.

Holy smokes, Tiger hits an absolute brilliant chip from off the green and on a mound, stopping it inches from the cup. Will look like a routine par on the scorecard, but that was anything but. 2 over

No. 16, par 4, 485 yards

Another fine tee shot leaves 147 yards and a pitching wedge to the pin. Tiger doesn't catch it quite cleanly enough. On the green but well short, 30-plus feet, of the flag.

Two-putt par. 2 over

No. 15, par 5, 548 yards

Tiger finds the right side of the fairway with this tee shot and takes aim at the green in two. His fairway metal fades right into the sand, however. Bad shot. Another solid save leaves about 16 feet for birdie. Bingo. Tiger's best putt of the day. 2 over

Good gracious, Patrick Cantlay is on fire. A birdie on 18 — birdies in five of his last six — and he finishes with a 7-under 65.

No. 14, par 4, 292 yards

Alas, Tiger missed the fairway this time, way left into the waste area, nearly plunking a couple of bystanders minding their own business.

Tiger saves it with a strong second shot, but he wobbles again with the putter. Can't seem to get the speed figured out. Runs the birdie putt past and ends up with par. 3 over

Alex Noren eagles the par-5 15th to get 5 under, joining Bubba Watson. Meanwhile, Patrick Cantlay keeps on rolling; a birdie on 17 to get to -6.

No. 13, par 4, 483 yards

Another fairway hit for Tiger, another green missed. Tiger's approach bounces short and right of the green. He gets up and down for par. 3 over

There was a moment when it looked like things might be headed in a good direction ... then the bad result on the good 5-wood from the fairway on the par-5 11th leading to a disappointing par, and the absolute disaster on 12.

At least it's been interesting the last two holes. Not good but definitely interesting.

What has been good? Bubba Watson and Patrick Cantlay, who share the lead at 5 under.

And Tiger's yacht, Privacy, docked not far away. It looks good.

No. 12, par 3, 192 yards

Tiger's tee shot misses the green left of the hole. The good news is it's pin high. The bad news is it's left of the hole, off the green and in the hazard. It is playable, however, in the rough. Or not. The ball was sitting down a bit, and Tiger's chip doesn't come out far enough and rolls back into the hazard, past Tiger's feet and into the water. Ouch.

Tiger has to take an unplayable. He doesn't make the same mistake with his fourth shot that he made with his second, meaning he ran the chip well past the hole leaving about 6 feet for double bogey. Another ouch. Triple bogey.

This round has come unwound. 3 over

Meanwhile, Patrick Cantlay is on a roll, birdieing No. 14 to join Bubba Watson at -4.

No. 11, par 5, 589 yards

Make it 8-for-8 on fairways hit for Tiger. Another driver that flies far and lands cleanly.

Tiger, 263 to the front of the green, gets a bit too much of the 5-wood ... it lands on the green, and Tiger implores it to "Stop! Stop!" It doesn't, rolling off the back and turning what was very close to being an excellent eagle opportunity into a very tricky up-and-down for birdie.

Tiger's chip is nearly perfect, but just fails to stop on a dime ... leaving a tester for birdie from about 7 feet. Another misread speeds past, leaving 3 feet for par. No trouble with the comebacker, though. Oh-so-close with the 5-wood to something special but only a par. Even par

Bubba Watson birdies No. 9 and is now alone in front at -4.

No. 10, par 4, 435 yards

Another Tiger tee shot, this time with a 3-metal, is straight and true — 7-for-7 in fairways hit.

The approach is fine but nothing special, 25 feet right of the hole. Tiger is a bit conservative on the birdie putt, leaving a testy 3 feet for par. No problems, however. Even par

Patrick Reed's share of the lead is gone quickly after a bogey on 8. Keegan Bradley bogeys 12 but birdies 13 and is at -3, tied with Bubba Watson.

All of a sudden, ladies and gentlemen, Justin Rose, who eagles 11 to join the group at -3.

No. 9, par 5, 603 yards

Another big drive, another fairway split. The driver is in tune today.

Tiger laid up with his second, leaving a wedge to the green. His approach looks good, but spins just a bit too much. It stops below the hole, 15 feet away. Another birdie possibility.

Tiger misreads the putt, playing for a break that he doesn't get. But another solid par, and he makes the turn three behind the lead but seemingly in control of his game. Even par

Patrick Reed, -3 through seven, joins Bubba Watson and Keegan Bradley at the top.

No. 8, par 3, 207 yards

Tiger, with a 5-iron, lands his tee shot just over the flag, and it stops rolling 15 feet from the pin. Another dandy birdie opportunity. Solid putt that just skids by inches to the right. The birdie run is done, but the ship has been righted. Even par

No. 7, par 4, 339 yards

Now it's on. Tiger delivers another solid drive, just short of the green which will leave an easy chip. He puts himself in birdie position again, 4 feet away, and drains the putt for his second birdie in a row. Even par

No. 6, par 5, 595 yards

The only good news is that the driver is working just fine. Another dandy.

Tiger is conservative with his second, a layup, and it pays off after a solid wedge to within 5 feet. And now it's up to the putter ... Birdie! That's more like it Eldrick. 1 over

Keegan Bradley, -3 through 9, and Bubba Watson, -3 through five, are your leaders.

No. 5, par 3, 175 yards

Tiger finds the green, but the putter fails: First putt races 8 feet past, par putt comes up inches short. Three putts for bogey. Tiger struggling. 2 over

No. 4, par 4, 497 yards

Another good drive. A bomb, actually. Now he needs to hit a good approach.

Better. Within 25 feet for birdie. Two-putt par. Not scintillating for Tiger so far. 1 over

Keegan Bradley is alone in front at 3 under through seven.

No. 3, par 5, 579 yards

Tiger’s tee shot is long and straight. He will have a chance to go for the green in two.

The approach is just short of the green and ends up in a bunker. From the bunker, Tiger gets to within 5 feet. Aaaannnnddd ... no dice. Par, but a missed opportunity. 1 over

Keegan Bradley (through six) and Xander Schauffele (through five) lead at 2 under.

No. 2, par 3, 188 yards

A little bit shaky early: Tiger misses to the right off the tee and a poor chip leaves a long par putt. Trouble brewing early for Tiger, who misses the putt and ends up with a bogey. 1 over

Playing partner Justin Thomas goes par-par.

No. 1, par 4, 453 yards

And we are off. Tiger finds the fairway off the tee. The approach shot is lacking — 40 feet for birdie — but he finds the hole in the requisite four shots. Nothing special, but on his way. Even par.

Contributing: Steve DiMeglio; and Golfweek