Tiger Woods sounded an ominous warning despite an erratic display with the driver on the opening day of the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

Woods, a seven-time Bridgestone winner, managed to hit just five of 14 fairways in first full competitive round since last April’s U.S. Masters.

Tiger Woods on route to a 68. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

The Star Spangled American signed for a very respectable two under par 68 on the rain-softened Firestone course to end the first day of the $US 8.5m event six shots behind Australia’s Adam Scott.

Scott holed a monster 30-foot birdie putt at his penultimate hole to end the day at eight under par and one clear of fellow Australian Jason Day.

But most eyes were on Woods.

He walked onto the slightly before his 1.40pm tee time to a huge reception.

And after shaking hands with new British Open champion, Darren Clarke it was down to business for the former long-time World No. 1.

And despite admitting to some nerves, Woods could walk off some four-and-a-half hours later delighted with his first full round in three months.

“I was pleased to be hitting proper shots out there, and the distances I was hitting the golf ball,” he said.

“I hadn’t hit the golf ball like that for a while. It was fun, to be able to hit the ball with that much flush feeling through the ball and speed I had.

“It was pretty nice.

A crouching Tiger Woods in his first full competitive round in three months. (Photo - Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

“I haven’t been out here for many weeks, 11 or 12 weeks, and that wasn’t very good.  So then you go back to my first other full round of golf and that was when I was in contention in the Masters.

“So it’s been a while. I felt nerves out there on that first tee like I did when I came back off long layoffs after the winter, or the surgeries I’ve had over the years,  2002 to 2003, and then in ’08 and ’09.

“So that first tee shot I was pretty nervous.  It felt awesome.

“It feels great, feels great.  As anybody who’s been off and who’s been injured, first time back, it’s a little nervous to see what happens.  But my practice sessions were good. So there’s no reason why I should be worried out there.

“I went out there and just let it go, let it rip and see what happens.”

And before returning to his hotel, Woods sounded one of those now familiar warnings we’ve long heard from the 14-time Major Champion.

“I now expect myself to be better prepared going into tomorrow,” he said.

 I’ve got the competitive fell now.  I know what it feels like to get into the flow of the round, the rhythm of playing and walking, and just the flow of playing tournament golf.

“That is the way different from zipping around in shorts and a golf cart.

“I will still take it step-by-step but it was fun today to see some of the shots, some of the drives out there.  I got my power back.”