Ever since he drove his SUV into a tree after midnight last Thanksgiving, Tiger Woods has taken a beating on and off the golf course.

He hasn’t won in 9 starts this year.  He had his worst 4-round performance of his professional career on the PGA Tour.  He withdrew from one tournament and failed to make the cut at another.  He’s still ranked #1 in the world but ranks 112 in the Tour Standings.  He also faced constant questioning, criticism and ridicule for his philandering double-life which he now admits took a greater toll on him than he ever let on.

Now, after the first round of his first tournament since finalizing his divorce, Tiger appears to have found his form.

He finished 18 holes at the Barclays Classic at the Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J. with a 6-under-par 65, putting him (temporarily at least) alone at the top of the leaderboard for the first time in any round in any tourney this year.

The Barclays Classic is the first in a series of four PGA Playoff events that make up the Fed Ex Cup, which doesn’t rank as a major but offers a significant purse and a chance for Tiger to re-establish himself as a dominant player and perhaps put the troubles of the past year behind him.

After his Pro-Am practice round in the rain Wednesday, Tiger spoke to reporters for ten minutes and questions inevitably turned to his personal struggles with his now ex-wife Elin Nordegren.

“I wish her the best in everything” he said.  ”You know, it’s a sad time in our lives and we’re looking forward to… how we can help our kids the best way we possibly can.  That’s the most important thing.”

“As far as my game and practicing that’s been secondary.  We’re trying to get our kids situated to our new living condition and how that’s going to be.  That’s where our focus is at right now.”

And for a day at least his focus was on the course too.  His 65 is his best round on the Tour this year.