Tiger Woods hopes to find his roar again, one meticulous step at a time Premium

Tiger Woods returned to competitive golf after 8 months, his primary aim was to last the full 72 holes, which he did. He showed he's still a force to be reckoned with, despite his age and injuries. He drove it on a string, but his putting was not up to par. He's now on the Tour Policy Board, working to ensure players get a fair representation in the merger. He's determined to make it happen the right way.

There were no scintillating low scores over the four rounds. There were no long putts or rationale-defying recovery shots which went viral on social media. In fact, he was never even in contention for a top-five finish, let alone winning the tournament.

But all things considered, Tiger Woods ticked the right boxes at the Hero World Challenge in Nassau, Bahamas. Playing his first tournament in nearly eight months after undergoing a subtalar fusion procedure in his ankle, Woods’ primary aim was to last the full 72 holes. On this count, it was mission accomplished.

Woods walked the course with no noticeable limp or pain. Yes, there was soreness at the end of each round, but this is expected given his age and the toll that multiple injuries have taken on his body.

He did not take much time lining up his shots — an encouraging sign that the mind is functioning without clutter. Woods, who will turn 48 at the end of the month, showed that while he is not quite the world beater of his heyday, he is far from a spent force.

For the crowds at Albany golf course — albeit small in number — there was only one show in town. Woods had the strongest contingent of followers, while the likes of World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and others had to be content with the company of a few family members and friends.

Woods (82 PGA Tour event titles) is tied with Sam Snead for most PGA Tour wins. With time, Woods will gain the belief that all it takes is one good week to lay his hands on yet another trophy. He can then bask in the glory as the lone man on the highest peak. Just one week of good golf. His par-288 overall score at Albany, which saw him finish 18th in a field of 20, can be viewed as the first step in that path.

Woods was happy to get back on the course and feel that competitive drive. “I was curious just like you guys (media) to see what this tournament is going to look like. With the way my ankle is right now, I was excited to get through each and every day and to start piecing rounds together. It was fun to feel that again,” Woods said.