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First Posted: 8/29/2013

NORTON, Mass. — Tiger Woods planned to take it easy during the pro-am at the Deutsche Bank Championship. His back felt so good he decided to play all 18 holes.

Woods hit a variety of full shots with no indication of any pain. It was far different from four days ago, when he dropped to his knees after a back spasm when he hit one errant shot in The Barclays.

The Deutsche Bank Championship starts Friday, and Woods say the extra day off for treatment and rest has helped.

It’s the third time this year Woods has dealt with pain — an elbow injury in the spring, and back pain at the PGA Championship and The Barclays. Woods says that’s just the nature of sport and he’s not concerned.

Champions Tour

CALGARY, Alberta — Canyon Meadows is a hit with the Champions Tour players — and they’ll have to hit it straight to have any chance of winning the inaugural Shaw Charity Classic.

“Canyon Meadows is old style, tree-lined,” Mark O’Meara said. “Better hit it straight just because the pines are there and they hang all the way down to the ground so it’s going to be very important to be accurate off the tee. If you keep the ball in play you can be a little more aggressive.”

The 54-hole event begins Friday on the course that opening in 1957.

“It’s a beautiful course. It’s in great shape,” Fred Couples said “I have no feel on how hard it is yet, but it was hard for me today. I was in the trees a few times. It’s a really nice layout. The back nine is kind of fun with three of everything. The par 5s are right there, if you hit a good drive, obviously, for me I can reach most of them, so it’s a nice layout. It’s got some short holes, got a few 470 par 4s that don’t play that long but are some good holes.”