Tiger Woods gave his ‘unusual’ new golf shoes the big stamp of approval on day two of the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational at Akron, Ohio.

Tiger Woods gives his new golf shoes a big stamp of approval. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

Just as Woods return to competition has attracted enormous interest, so too has his footwear.

There’s been comments from spectators, TVcommentators and reporters about the purpose of Woods’ new line of footwear.

Woods posted a one over par 71 to drop to one under par in the $US 8.5m event after a Firestone second round that included four birdies but also three bogeys and a sixth hole double bogey.

It left the former long-time World No. 1 trailing nine strokes behind the leading trio of Australia’s Adam Scott (70) and his American compatriots Ryan Moore (66), Ryder Cup rookie star Rickie Fowler (64) and Keegan Bradley (65).

Scotland’s Martin Laird boosted hopes of a second PGA success this season when the newly-married Glaswegian birdied his closing three holes in a 67 to be in a share of fifth rth place at seven under par with Australia’s Jason Day (70) and Sweden’s Robert Karlsson (65), and just one off the lead.

Woods scores of 68 and 71 are his second poorest start in an event he’s won seven out of 13 appearances.

The Star Spangled American can be excused for a little rust, given he’s not played a full four rounds since last April’s U.S. Masters.

But he gave his much talked about new Nike ‘Free’ golf shoes a big thumbs up.

“The shoes have been made to help in the healing process,” said Woods.

“I’m able to activate the foot and get the whole chain working from foot up.   That’s something I haven’t been able to engage, but with the help of the shoes I’m engaging it.

“I wear the Frees all the time at home, and at all my training sessions I’m in them.

“There’s no reason I can’t play in them, so that’s why we created them.”

Unlike day one when Woods managed to hit just five of 14 fairways, he found three more on day two.