Tiger roars again.

Tiger Woods returned to competitive action yesterday for the first time since February when he competed in the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

Tiger Woods declared himself highly satisfied after making an encouraging start to his latest eagerlyanticipated injury comeback in the Hero World Challenge.

Woods has started just three events since August 2015 and withdrew from his most recent tournament in February in Dubai after an opening 77.

The 14-time major winner had spinal fusion surgery in April, his fourth back operation in three years, but for the second year in succession has returned to action in the Bahamas.

Former world number one Woods is ranked 1,199th and began the week a 40-1 outsider in the 18-man field, in what is not an official PGA Tour event but does carry significant world ranking points.

And those odds looked somewhat generous as Woods carded an opening 69 at Albany to lie three shots off the lead held by European number one Tommy Fleetwood.

“For me I thought I did great,” Woods told the Golf Channel.

“I had a lot of adrenalin going there. I was hitting the ball a little bit longer than I normally do and had to dial it back a little bit.”

Fleetwood has a one-shot lead over Rickie Fowler and Matt Kuchar, with Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Kevin Chappell on four under.

Getty.

Picture: Getty.