Tiger dazzles in long-awaited return from injury

Tiger Woods laughs on the eighth tee during the first round of the Hero World Challenge at Albany course on November 30, 2017 in Nassau, Bahamas. [Photo/VCG]

Tiger Woods dazzled in his much-anticipated return from injury on Thursday at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas where the former world number one flashed a fist pump and did not seem bothered by his troublesome back.

Woods, competing for the first time after a near 10-month layoff during which he had spinal fusion surgery, appeared pain free at the Albany course on the island of New Providence where he mixed five birdies with two bogeys for a three-under-par 69.

That left him in a four-way share of eighth place and three shots behind Britain's Tommy Fleetwood after the first round of the elite 18-man event featuring eight of the world's top 10.

"I didn't know what I could do," Woods told Golf Channel. "I've been playing a lot of holes at home, but it's a little different when you have to tee it up in a tournament."

Woods, who two months ago said he was only hitting 60-yard shots, drove mostly well off the tee, made some solid putts and impressive par saves but at times also let out expletives and slammed his club in frustration.

Riding high after a pair of consecutive birdies, Woods was two shots off the lead at the par-five 15th hole when his tee shot sailed far right. He took a drop and went on to two-putt for his second bogey of the day.

From there he went on to close out with a trio of pars to cap a round that showed, perhaps, that the 14-times major champion still has plenty left.

MISSED PUTTS

After narrowly missing birdie putts on his opening two holes Woods hit his approach shot at the par-five third to about 40 feet and went on to tap in for birdie.

On the next hole Woods caught his chip heavy and was left with a 15-footer from just off the green from where he coolly rolled his ball into the middle of the cup for par before pumping his right fist to the delight of the cheering gallery.

Woods, who turns 42 on Dec. 30, delivered a more subdued fist pump at the par-three eighth where he rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt after his tee shot settled on the edge of the green.