Albany, Bahamas ….

Tiger Woods made a very impressive return to competitive golf shooting a comfortable four-under par score over nine holes of official practice ahead of this week’s 2017 Hero World Challenge.

Woods teed-off just prior to 9.30am local time in the company of fellow American Patrick Reed.

Woods grabbed the honour of teeing-off first and immediately split the fairway with a booming drive with Reed landing his ball some 30-yards short of Woods.

Woods proceeded to land his second shot to just 6-feet and holed the putt for a birdie.

The former long-time World No. 1 ranked Woods then pared the par three, second hole before out-driving Reed for a second occasion, and again by about 30-yards at the par five, third hole.

Indeed, Woods outdrove Reed on seven of the nine holes including the last when Woods sent a drive some 60-yards further than the Texan.

It led Reed to comment after the nine holes:  “Tiger looked this morning he was playing pain free and down the last there, he out-drove me by 60-yards and he out-drove me every hole of the nine we played.

“Though the last there was the first one he embarrassed me on (smiling) but then I did not expect him to come back if he could not give 100%, and unless his golf game was ready.

Tiger Woods driving off in his first official practice round in some 10 months ahead of this week’s Hero World Challenge.

“I was very impressed on him going out and being able to hit the golf shots he wanted including being able to use his drive to draw and fade the ball.

“He was to able to hit all the shots this morning he wanted to and not once flinch or pick his tee up gingerly, and also just walk at his normal pace with a real spring in his step.

“That is was impressed me most about Tiger this morning.”

DETAILS OF WOODS’ BIRDIES

1st – 6 feet

5th – 20 feet (7-iron)

6th – 10 feet

7th – 4 feet