Torrey Pines ….

Tiger Woods returns to competition this week itching to jump back into the deep end after spending plenty of time in the off-season diving off the Bahamas.

Woods tees-up in the Farmers Insurance Open on the Torrey Pines course near San Diego and in an event he’s won seven times while the clifftop course overlooking the Pacific Ocean also is the venue for his last Major in capturing the 2008 U.S. Open.

After the uncertainity of this time 12 months ago Woods also tees-up as a last-up winner albeit last August in capturing the Tour Championship in Atlanta and an 80th Tour win.

And there’s excitement in Woods voice even though he was sounding pretty croaky after picking-up a ‘bug’ from one of his children.

Tiger Woods reveals his back is so strong he’s back to deep sea diving using air tanks. (Photo – @tourmiss)

Woods said:  “One of the best things I did in the off-season was get back into diving again and be able to do some spear fishing and free driving is something that I truly missed. Even tank diving, I haven’t tank dived in years;

“I just can’t afford to have that weight on my back and compressing my disk and my disk was already screwed up.

“So whenever you put any weight on it, it made it worse. I haven’t tank dove in years and to be able to do that again, to be able to get in the water and free dive to around 180-feet, put the fins on and load the body up and drop down like that, that was something I truly missed. I love being in the water.”

Woods tees-up in the $US 7.4m event at 10.40pm (Local time).