Albany, Bahamas ….

Patrick Reed and Tiger Woods were observed standing on the 18th green talking at lenght following a nine-hole practice round on the first official day of practice ahead of this week’s Hero World Challenge.

Moments earlier, Woods hat out-driven Reed by some 60-yards at the 18th that the pair decided to play as their last on the exclusive Albany course.

Patrick Reed speak about Tiger Woods following a 9-hole practice round together at the Hero World Challenge. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)

In fact, Woods had out-driven Reed on all holes with, of course, the only exception being the par 3s.

Woods and Reed, whose wife is due to give birth to the couple’s second child that is due Tuesday 5th December, were clearly enjoying themselves including Reed mentioning an ear-shot of Woods: “Tiger promised he would loan me his plane if I have to fly back to Texas early. Isn’t that right, Tiger? ”  Woods joked in responding:  “Yes, dear.”

On a more serious note, Reed was asked his thoughts about seeing Woods back inside the competition ropes.

“I want to see again the Tiger Woods from 1999 to 2001 and I want to play alongside the best golfer ever to live on this planet,” said Reed.

“I want to see that Tiger Woods.  We all want to see that Tiger Woods and Tiger himself wants to see that.

“Getting to know Tiger as I have and getting to know all the golfers out here and how competitive we all are, I know Tiger wants he wants to be the best he was.

“The thing with Tiger, and what I and everyone really loves about the guy, it doesn’t matter whether he is in his prime or whether he is not injured or injured, he is always trying to be the best.

“He’s the ultimate grinder and that is something awesome to watch and he really has nothing to prove.

“People are putting all these expectations on him and whether or not Tiger is going to play well or is he going to do this or is he going to do that.  Honestly, who cares as we are just glad to have him back playing golf.

“He 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.

“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.

“Also, I was impressed how he could move his body fast through the ball and also being able to move slow when he needed to.

“He got steep on some shots so he could flight the ball and just being 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.”

Then after some lunch Woods and Reed were spotted at the far end of the Albany range and again looking like they were enjoying each other’s company.