Tiger’s back and has birdies to prove it

– Former world No 1 Tiger Woods (right) made a satisfying return on Thursday in his latest comeback after a 10-month lay-off punctuated by back surgery and personal problems.

Woods, playing his first round of tournament golf in 301 days, fired a three-under-par 69 in the opening round of the Hero World Challenge at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas.

The 41-year-old 14-time Major champion carded five birdies and two bogeys in an encouraging first outing since injury forced his withdrawal at the Dubai Desert Classic in February.

“I thought I did great,” said a smiling Woods, who is three shots back from leader Tommy Fleetwood, who posted a six-under-par 66.

“I hadn’t played in a while after some difficulties, so to come out here and score like I did was nice,” Woods added. “It was fun to be out there and be part of a scorecard again.”

Woods underwent back surgery in April in the latest of a series of injury setbacks which also forced him to miss the entire 2015/2016 season.

After narrowly missing with two birdie putts on the opening two holes, Woods made his first birdie of the day on the par-five third, reaching the green in two before two-putting.

A further birdie on the eighth – when he drained a 20-foot putt – put him at two under before a botched chip led to a bogey on the ninth.

However Woods came roaring back after the turn, with birdies on the 10th, 13th and 14th to move to four under before a bogey on 16 halted his momentum.

Woods said he had paid a mental tribute to all those who had enabled him to return to the sport he once dominated before he teed off on Thursday.

“There were a lot of people that were instrumental in my life – friends, outside people I’ve never met before, obviously my surgeon – a lot of people.

“I made sure in my head that I thanked every one of them,” he said. – AFP